Hello! The Human Paradox here to at last bring you Chapter 7 of "Live or Die? Make Your Choice". 2 months without update? Heh heh, yeah. A very busy 2 months, I might add! During those 2 months I have finished my last school exams and at last free from school forever! Hurrah! (Well, after my prom this weekend, then I'll be officially free.) Also went to a couple of parties, made some short films and saw the greatest supergroup of all time: McBusted at the Hydro in Glasgow! What a show! Yes there is a group called McBusted (comprised of McFly and Busted) and they were freaking awesome! They had a DeLorean Time Machine fly them onto the stage and had a UFO B stage. That is the definition of awesome. Check them out!
Reviews!
D's Rep- Glad you're having fun! Smiling and laughing? Your an odd individual aren't you? We'll get along!
So anyway, we're at the longest chapter yet! Between 3,500 and 4,000 words! It was extremely hot today in Scotland- over 20 degrees Celsius! That gave me the inspiration to do some writing. Tomorrow is supposed to be similar, if so I'll get even more writing done! So hope you enjoy the chapter! Sorry again for the long wait!
I do not own any Wreck-It Ralph characters, they all belong Disney Animation. I also do not own any Saw characters, they belong to Lionsgate and Twisted Pictures.
Vanellope just couldn't fathom it, Wynnchel and Duncan dead? It just wasn't possible, characters don't die in their game. Well not permanently anyway. That was the one thought repeating over and over again in her head, which was facing the ground. Vanellope was only vaguely aware that Matthews still had his arm wrapped round her. He didn't say anything, he didn't need to. He just knew that Vanellope needed comfort and that is what he was giving her. Vanellope was grateful for this. Even though Matthews was a complete hot-head compared to the level-headiness of Strahm and could be reckless and impulsive. But despite these flaws, Matthews could be a caring person when he wants to. Strahm was a little too serious. Even though he is an honest, loyal man he can be a little insensitive at times.
Vanellope was abruptly awakened by the sound of her phone ringing from her hoodie pocket. Vanellope reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone with much thought. She looked at it and saw that it was Crumbelina was calling her. She answered her phone with a shaky breath,
"Crumbs, this isn't the best time"
"They're gone! They're gone Van!" Crumbelina screamed, cutting her off.
"What? Calm down Crumbs!" Vanellope spoke trying to calm her friend down. Matthews noticed the intensity in her voice and realised something was up. "Who's gone?!" Matthews' eyes widened.
"Snowanna, Sticky, Minty and Torvald they're all gone! And a C.L.A.W. agent is dead!"
Vanellope went into a shocked state. Snowanna, Sticky, Torvald and Minty- missing? A C.L.A.W. agent dead?
"Vanellope?! Are you still there?" Crumbelina called from her side on the phone. Vanellope was snapped out from her trance and immediately assumed her role as ruler.
"Crumbelina, where are the others?"
"They're all here with me."
"Get everyone together and head straight to the castle right now." She ordered.
"Ok, we'll head there now" She replied hanging up. When Vanellope also hanged up, Matthews began questioning her immediately,
"Vanellope what's wrong? What's happened?" he questioned.
"I'll tell you in a minute, get me Sour Bill." Matthews complied and left her side to run into the green-light torture room. Sour Bill was still at the work bench with Strahm and Hoffman beside him. They were previously occupied with a video playing on the television set and a bear trap on the bench, but their attention soon shifted to Matthews when he rushed in.
"Bill get out here right now!" Usually Sour Bill wouldn't give Matthews a passing glance or allow him to order him around, but the urgency in his voice convinced him to listen and obey. Sour Bill, followed by Hoffman and Strahm, walked back out to the room where Vanellope was still shaken from the news she had just learned.
"Madam President, what's the matter?"
"Um Crumbelina called… and well, we have a problem" the small girl began, "Snowanna, Sticky, Minty and Torvald are missing and a C.L.A.W. agent has been murdered."
Sour Bill went stiff and his eyes widened,
Oh no, this is worse than I thought. I need to get back to the castle.
"Madam I advise we head back to the castle immediately."
"I agree, I've already told the other racers to head there also" she responded. Sour Bill turned to Strahm,
"Strahm I want you and Hoffman to head to Cherry Cola Mountain and search the area" he ordered before turning to Matthews, "Matthews you will accompany Vanellope and I to the castle."
It took Strahm and Hoffman ten minutes to reach Cherry Cola Mountain. On their way over, they had passed by Crumbelina and the other racers who were on their way to the castle. Content that the racers were away from danger, the two continued on their way to the demolished mountain. They were currently in the middle of the clearing in the candy canes where the body of the deceased C.L.A.W. agent lay.
"So he was stabbed with a candy cane branch?" Strahm asked.
"Yep" replied Hoffman who was crouched over the body. "Whoever did was strong."
"What do you mean? It wouldn't have been that hard to snap a branch off a tree."
"True, but that wasn't what I was referring to" Hoffman said, "I was talking about the depth of the branch in the body's back. It would have to been someone of reasonable strength and the C.L.A.W. agent's height. It would be impossible for someone like one of the racer's stature to reach up to the shoulder blades."
"Assuming the agent was fully standing" Strahm stated.
"It was" Hoffman noted, as he circled the body for further information. While he was doing that, Strahm wandered over to one of the nearby trees which he promptly leaned against. Hoffman began to search the area surrounding the body. He noticed something standing out in the dirt: a green bow. He immediately picked it up and identified it as Minty's.
"Strahm, look what I found." As Strahm stepped forward his foot crunched on a foreign object. He lifted his boot for further inspection, only to find a slingshot.
"No, look what I found…" Hoffman turned to Strahm to see him clutching the slingshot, Hoffman then looked at the body with the branch embedded in the agent's back and then in the direction of the tree where Strahm was standing.
"A slingshot?" Hoffman enquired as he walked towards Strahm. "You think that was used in the killing?"
"It's possible" Strahm replied, "What did you find?" Hoffman lifted his hand to reveal Minty's bow, which was wrinkled and covered in a thin layer of dust. "Minty's bow?" Hoffman nodded in response.
"Can you get some C.L.A.W. agents out here while I set up a crime scene?" Hoffman asked.
"Yeah, no problem." As Hoffman walked over to the body whilst still carrying Minty's bow, Strahm pulled out his walkie talkie.
"Hang on girls, we'll find you."
The mood in the throne room was unsettlingly quiet to say the least. The remaining racers who had not mysteriously disappeared in the last 24 hours were scattered throughout the room. Some were lying on the floor- Jubileena, Citrusella, Nougetsia and Adorabeezle while Swizzle sat on the stairs at the base of the throne. Gloyd was perched on one of the throne's arm rests while Crumbelina stood nearby him. No one talked on the way back from Cherry Cola Mountain. Everyone had pretty much exhausted their vocal cords screaming in panic after it was discovered that more of their friends were missing. Also there was the fact they were under heavy guard from the C.L.A.W. agents and no one felt entirely comfortable in the presence of the silent giants. Some like Crumbelina was ok with the silence as it allowed him to think about all that has occurred in the last few hours. For Gloyd it was unimaginable torture. He couldn't stand quiet, he preferred loud noises. This was why, on a regular basis, he would resort to his childish pranks to disrupt the peace and cause chaos. But as there was too much drama in the last few hours, and that persuaded him that perhaps it was best he remained silent. All the while he prayed for something to happen, something to break the silence. Hell a sneeze would do! His prayers were answered when the doors to the throne swung open to reveal Vanellope, Sour Bill and Matthews.
Seeing that they were joined by new company, everybody brightened up slightly. Gloyd was the first to make a sound.
"Vanellope you're back! At last! What kept you? I was close to passing out of boredom!" he exclaimed over-dramatically.
"Hush now Gloyd" Crumbelina scolded him, as a mother would a child. While Gloyd grumbled under his breath about a 'crumby bossy boots', Crumbelina turned to the new arrivals. "Vanellope, any news?"
"Yeah, bad news I'm afraid" the President began. Everyone's eyes widened slightly. "So everyone listen up…" she took a deep breath in and let it out with a shaky breath. "There is no easy way to say this but, I'll start at the beginning." Everyone payed close attention as Vanellope was about to bring about the bad news. Vanellope looked at Sour Bill and Matthews who were directly behind her, who gave her an encouraging nod. Vanellope turned back to her racers and spoke loud and clear.
"Ok, last night at the Kart Bakery Beard Papa failed to check in so Sour Bill sent Wynnchel and Duncan to investigate. However soon after they arrived, we lost contact with them also. So Strahm and Matthews went to investigate while we raced today…"
"Wait so you knew Wynnchel and Duncan were missing? Why didn't you tell us?" Crumbelina asked. Sour Bill decided to interject,
"I advised Vanellope to keep it a secret so as not to cause unnecessary panic if it turned out to be a false alarm. Unfortunately it wasn't." he finished gravely.
"What do you mean?" Jubileena asked the Royal Advisor who went silent as did Vanellope. "Vanellope what does he mean?" she pleaded. Matthews decided if it was best if he told the news, so he spoke up.
"Strahm and I along with our C.L.A.W. agents searched the bakery from top to bottom but we couldn't find any trace of them, until we investigated the basement" he spoke with sadness.
"Well?" Swizzle asked, "What did you find?" Even though he asked the question, Swizzle had a hunch on what the answer was, he just hoped he was wrong.
"We found Wynnchel and Duncan dead, butchered to death but no sign of Beard Papa" Matthews said, finally confirming the horrid truth. Crumbelina gasped in shock with her hands at her mouth in disbelief, Gloyd slid off the arm rest in shock and crumpled in a heap on the floor, Jubileena immediately broke into sobs and was instantly comforted by Citrusella and Swizzle and Nougetsia and Adorabeezle hugged each other.
Sour Bill then spoke with authority, "Ok everyone I want everyone to stay in this room. No one is to leave here. As long as you remain here, you'll be safe. Stay here while Matthews and I get you some sleeping bags and something to eat." The two then left the children under the supervision of the C.L.A.W. agents and made their way out of the room. Vanellope turned to the others,
"I'm sorry for not telling you guys. I didn't want to worry you all" she sheepishly apologised. Crumbelina regained her composure and approached Vanellope to place a reassuring hand on the girl's shoulder,
"It's okay Van, we understand." Vanellope couldn't keep it in any longer, she wrapped her arms around Crumbelina and embraced her in a tight hug, to which the girl on the receiving end kindly returned.
"I'm so scared Crumb" Vanellope confessed. Crumbelina continued to hug her friend, rubbing circles on her back,
"So am I" Crumbelina broke out of the hug gently to place both hands on Vanellope's shoulders to look her in the eyes, "But we need you to be strong Van. Your our leader, everyone looks up to you for guidance and instruction and right now the others need you to be strong. Can you do that for me?" Vanellope looked back at her friend and smiled,
"Why are you not my Royal Advisor?"
"Because Sour Bill would have nothing to do all day except sulk, that's why." Both girls lightly chuckled.
"Thank you Crumbelina" Vanellope said, to which Crumbelina just nodded. Vanellope turned to her fellow racers, "Okay everybody! You heard Billy Boy, we're gonna be here until further notice so we might as well have some fun while we're at it!" Everyone's mood brightened slightly at Vanellope's enthusiastic behaviour, they always did.
A few hours later the racers were all bundled up in their sleeping bags scattered throughout the throne room. Their sleeping bags had been kept in the storage cupboard from previous sleep overs at the castle. After Matthews and Sour Bill gathered all the bags and brought along snacks from the kitchen, the children engaged in trivial games ranging from the strenuous tag and the dreaded truth or dare. These were all conducted under the supervision of Sour Bill and Matthews. The two decided to look after the children personally as they were aware that the kids were unnerved by the C.L.A.W. agents, who were ordered to patrol the castle. When the hour became close to midnight, the children dropped off to sleep one by one until they were all sound asleep, safe in the knowledge that they were temporarily shielded from the horror that had spread across their lives in the past 24 hours.
Matthews looked at all the children in content silence, seeing them peaceful and somewhat happy as children could be in a time like this. His thoughts were interrupted by Sour Bill clearing his throat, announcing his presence. Matthews looked down at the cough drop at his feet, who spoke to him,
"Come with me." Matthews looked at the retreating figure with confusion,
"Where?" The Royal Advisor halted and breathed an irritated sigh before turning slightly to look at the detective,
"Just follow me Matthews."
"What about the kids?"
"We'll only be gone for a few minutes, now follow me." Sour Bill didn't wait for a response, he then walked past the throne and behind the curtain that surrounded it. Matthews hesitantly jogged after him and stopped at the curtain to look back at the kids.
Nothing will happen. They'll be safe. He thought to himself, At least I hope so. With that last thought, he passed through the curtain.
Citrusella's eyes snapped open as soon as she heard the rumple of the curtain as Matthews walked through it. While everyone was fast asleep, she had remained wide awake. The whole night she couldn't stop worrying about the safety of her fellow recolours Sticky and Torvald. Even though she put on a brave face and smiled during the fun games they all did, which she did enjoy. However she couldn't shake Sticky and Torvald from her mind, not since what she had learned of Wynnchel and Duncan's fate. Though while Vanellope and Crumbelina did their best to put her mind off it, Citrusella just couldn't.
What if their suffering a similar fate? I can't let that happen. I have to help them! She unzipped her sleeping bag, slipped out, laced up her shoes and placed her helmet on her head whilst making sure to not make any noise. She stood up and made her way to the door on her tip toes. She walked around Gloyd who was on his side sucking his thumb, Citrusella couldn't help but giggle at the sight,
If he wasn't such a jerk at times, I might find him cute. She then passed by Swizzle and Jubileena who were snuggled in their respective sleeping bags whilst holding hands.
They can't even be apart in their sleep! She momentarily stopped by Jubileena, who she thought of as a sister. I'm sorry Jubi, but I have to do this. Citrusella then walked over the couple's joined hands and continued towards the door. She was almost there when,
"And where in the name of Mod are you going?" a voice chastised her from behind. Citrusella's mouth ejected a small yelp as she spun around to see the other remaining recolour Nougetsia.
"Don't ever do that again!" Citrusella screamed in a hushed tone, "What was that for?!"
"Um gee I don't know, maybe because you're sneaking out in the middle of the night?" Citrusella looked down shamefully,
"I'm sorry, I was just…"
"Going to look for Sticky and Torvald, right?" Citrusella looked at her friend shocked.
"How did you…"
"Cause I have the same plan." Citrusella looked at Nougetsia who was indeed clad in her helmet and shoes. "I can't stop thinking about them either and let's face it you're not gonna have much luck out there by yourself. So we might as well get lost in the woods like idiots together!" The two girls smiled at each other.
"Thanks Noug" Citrusella said with appreciation.
"Hey, what are friends for? Now let's go find them!" The two opened the doors with an agonising creek, to which they grimaced, and quietly snuck out and closed the door behind them.
The lift ride down to the castle's core was in silence which already made the compact space even tighter. Sour Bill had a calm expression on his face while Matthews stood beside him anxious to see what Sour Bill was taking them.
"Why are we going to the core?" the detective enquired.
"You'll find out soon enough." The lift finally slowed down to a halt as they reached the castle core. The lift doors hissed open to reveal a brightly lit blue circular corridor. On the walls were tubes that flashed blue and led to a circular door at the end of the corridor. Sour Bill scuttled along the floor, while Matthews trailed behind admiring the corridor. He had heard tales of the castle core, but had never seen it and was certainly eager to. Sour Bill stopped at the door which had buttons on it that you would normally find on a game controller- buttons for up, down, left and right and others labelled A,B, Select and Start. Matthews watched as Sour Bill pressed the buttons, while muttering them out load as he did.
"Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, Start." A panel on the door flashed green before the whole door rotated and split down the middle revealing a black void. In the distance, Matthews could see millions of flashing boxes floating aimlessly in the air.
"Is that…"
"The data boxes that contain all of the data in Sugar Rush, yes it is" Sour Bill answered, "Pass me that liquorice rope." Matthews looked to his right and saw said rope tied up and hanging from a hook on the wall. He lifted the rope off the hook and unravelled it.
"Tie it round me and make sure it's secure" Sour Bill ordered. Matthews complied and carry out the task. "I'm gonna check the boxes and test out a theory I have."
"What theory?" Matthews asked, "One that could explain why everyone's dying instead of regenerating?" Sour Bill looked at him in surprise,
"How did you kn.."
"I am a detective y'know" Matthews sarcastically retorted, "You really should give me more credit."
"Oh, I would Matthews believe me, if you actually had any creditability." Matthews gritted his teeth and glared at the annoying grass stain. "Now if you could please keep me suspended and not let me fall into oblivion that would be much appreciated." Sour Bill then leaped into the void and swam through the air towards the data boxes. Matthews stared after him,
"Oh I'll try not to(!)"
Sour Bill glided in between the boxes and scoured for the ones he was looking for.
"Let's see- stadium, jumbotron, winner's cup, racers; no that's not it. Ah here it is citizens." He double tapped the box highlighted as 'Citizen Data'. What popped up various lists of the citizens- which were organised into different lists for each of the racer's fans. However one box was different, as it was labelled 'Staff & Personal'. Sour Bill double tapped the box and saw the data for himself, Matthews, Strahm, Hoffman, Beard Papa, Wynnchel and Duncan. He double tapped Wynnchel's data only for the file to come up with static interference and 'CORRUPTED' flash up in bright red.
"Oh, that's not good" Sour Bill spoke out load. He exited the file and went onto Duncan's to be faced with 'CORRUPTED'. "Oh that's really discomforting." He exited Duncan's file and examined his file as well as Matthews, Strahm, Hoffman and Beard Papa's files to realise their corrupted as well. "Oh no, this is what I feared… I wonder?" He exited out of 'Staff & Personnel' and checked all of the racers' fans files to see they were untouched. He then examined each racer's file to see that everyone single racer was corrupted. Sour Bill looked at the hellish sight of the corrupted files and let out a heavy sigh.
"Hey, Bill!" Matthews called from the door peering in, "What's going on in there? You found what you were looking for?"
"Yeah Matthews, I did. Things have just got more complicated."
End of Chapter 7!
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