Escape the Night: Freak Show
A/N: So, will the YouTubers get the artifact without anyone dying? Time to find out.
Read, review, and enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything from Escape the Night. I just own any and all characters that I just happen create.
CHAPTER NINE: LIFE FOR A LIFE
The second that Oli and Tim were by their sides, the group stood up to face the Ringmaster.
"There we go," Matt stated, relieved that his friends were still alive. "They did it. They did your three challenges. Can we have the artifact now?"
The Ringmaster thought for a moment and then shook his head. "Not yet."
"What do you mean not yet?" Dawn demanded angrily. "Oli and Tim did those acts just like we all agreed. We had a deal!"
"There must be a winner," the ringmaster insisted. "The score is currently tied – Oli won the strongman, Timothy won the high wire challenge, and both failed miserably at juggling. Clearly, a tiebreaker is in order."
"Then make them do cartwheels or something," Joey suggested, not wanting to see either of his friends die. "I don't know. Just please, please don't-"
The Ringmaster interrupted him and spoke to the crowd. "I want you, the audience, to have a voice in the proceedings. To decide the fate of these two performers…" He pointed at Oli and Tim. "You must vote."
"Oh God," Joey moaned as the juggler and the lady sidekick directed Oli and Tim to a curtain that was pulled aside to reveal two dunk tanks.
"Behold!" the ringmaster shouted, cracking his whip. "The true main attraction – my twin aquarium chambers! Full of flesh-eating fish!"
"What?!" the YouTubers shrieked while the mean crowd all cackled as both Oli and Tim reluctantly climbed into the cages and seated themselves on the platforms.
"Yes," said the Ringmaster with a chuckle. "Our brave performers shall each be placed in a dunk tank. Whoever drops is going to die. So let's begin! You will either boo or cheer for each performer. Whoever gets the most boos goes down in the tank!"
The group of friends didn't really know who they should cheer for more, and none of them really wanted to see either Oli or Tim get eaten alive by piranhas. Before they could discuss among themselves, the Ringmaster spoke again, pointing at Oli with his whip.
"Performer number one! Oli!"
Some of the YouTubers cheered loudly, others clapped, and the mean crowd were booing once again.
"Performer number two! Timothy!"
More cheers from the YouTubers, along with more clapping, and once again the mean crowd did only booing.
Once the crowd had settled down, the Ringmaster looked between the two boys, thinking. "All right," he said. "Let's consider this. I think…" He let the suspense build up for a full minute. "Both shall go down!"
"No!" Joey and Dawn both screamed, jumping up as both Oli and Tim let out alarmed yelps as they were dropped into the cold water. "No!" Did they just lose both of their friends?!
"Guys," Matt gasped, staring at his two friends struggling in the water through the glass windows on the front of the tanks. "What just happened?"
Before the YouTubers could vent their rage against the Ringmaster, suddenly both Tim and Oli broke through the surface of the cold water, and they both grabbed at the bars. They pulled themselves up, and they were both still alive and intact.
The Ringmaster started laughing while the mean crowd let out boos of disappointment, and the group of friends were staring at him in utter confusion. "I forgot to put the flesh-eating fish in the tank today."
"You're sick!" Eva shouted angrily while Oli and Tim climbed out of the tanks and back to the ground, where they were given towels to dry themselves off with by Arthur and Sarah.
"You did bring me my greatest act however," the ringmaster added, pointing at the still-silent Guardian. "It is a fair trade. Vita!"
"Yes?" the assistant asked.
"Let them go."
Vita nodded and helped escort Oli and Tim back to their friends who were amazed that they were going to get the final artifact without losing anyone to death this time.
"Thank you very much, and have a good night!"
"Wait!" Matt called out, his eyes fixed on the artifact, which they still needed. "What about the artifact?"
"Yeah!"
"What about the artifact?"
"We had a deal!"
The Ringmaster glanced at the artifact and then back at the group, who were all glaring at him. "We did make a deal, didn't we?"
"We did," Matt confirmed.
"All right." The ringmaster turned to his assistant, who was doing some sort of weird dance in the corner. "Vita!"
"Yes?"
"Give them the artifact."
Vita collected the artifact from the table, carried it over, and gave it to Oli.
Once it was in their possession, the group hurried out of the tent with Arthur and Sarah leading the way, and when Tim tried to go back to get his watch, Matt grabbed him by the arm and practically dragged him away.
"But my watch-"
"No!"
They had the final artifact and now it was time to get back to the house, do the dammed ritual, and get the hell out of the 1920s and back to 2016 where they all belonged.
To Be Continued…
A/N: Yay! They got the final artifact and no one had to die! This time that is. R&R everyone!