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After the movie ended, Bobby, John, Rogue, Kitty, and Peter stood outside of a building that had a sigh reading "Arcade" over the entrance. John shoved his hands in his pockets and looked over at Peter.
"You know, for some reason, I thought you'd get us drunk or something. You seem like that kind of guy."
Peter's brows furrowed.
"Now, what's that supposed to mean?"
"This is a freakin' arcade, man." John groaned.
"Don't knock it 'til you tried it, smartass." Rogue said.
They all entered, inside the arcade owner, an excitable little man with flaming red hair greeted the group enthusiastically.
"Welcome!"
The kids shifted around uncomfortably.
"Oh, come on! You're in an arcade! Loosen up a little!"
Kitty coughed politely. John snorted derisively.
"Hmm, this won't do. Nothing in this room's going to interest you, I see. I wonder…"
The owner leaned in close.
"How would you all like to try…Murderworld?"
Kitty raised an eyebrow.
"Don't worry, it's not actually about murdering people." The owner assured.
"Damn. I thought you were serious." John responded.
"It's a highly realistic three-dimensional game."
"Bet we could do one better at the Danger—" Bobby began but Rogue elbowed him hard. Bobby stopped talking and rubbed his arm.
"We'll give it a shot." Rogue said.
The owner led the group to a couple of chairs. After they sat down the owner placed headsets on them all. In no time at all, the room took on the appearance of a carnival.
"Great. A carnival." John scoffed while getting to his feet, than looked at Bobby. "This is like some place Drake would take a girl out on a date."
"Hey!"
"Uh, guys…you might wanna turn around." Kitty said, frightened.
John, Rogue, and Bobby turned to find Mystique behind them. Rogue's eyes widen in shock. Mystique took out a knife, and charged toward Rogue. Rogue dived out of the way but Mystique continues through and slits Bobby's throat.
"Bobby!" Kitty screamed.
Bobby fell to the ground as Mystique cackles. Colossus metaled up and charges forward, smacking Mystique across the head with a punch. Her head flies off, revealing sparking cables. Kitty kneels down beside Bobby.
"Oh my God…"
Colossus put his hand on her shoulder.
"It's not real."
Kitty couldn't take her eyes off Bobby's still corpse.
In the arcade, Bobby awoke and stood with the owner. He looked over to the wall, where the others are still plugged into Murderworld. The owner turned to him and grinned.
"See how fun the arcade can be?"
"Yeah." Bobby said slowly and watched his friends progress on a monitor.
The group entered a house of mirrors. Reflections of Magneto surrounded them.
"This is insane. I want out." Kitty yelled.
"Oh, no, I'm sorry. It's not that easy." The owner's voice came over the system. "And anyway, things are about to get much more interesting."
After he said that, the glass inside the house of mirrors began shattering. Kitty quickly grabbed a hold of Colossus and Rogue, making all three intangible. John, however is ripped to shreds by the storm of glass. Rogue screamed in terror.
John then suddenly awoke and joins Bobby.
"I got a bad feeling about this."
The owner continues smiling.
"Two down. And you're mutants."
He looked at John and Bobby.
"I think we'll have to up the ante."
Magneto was at the center of the swirling glass. Colossus turned back to normal while Rogue ran at Magneto, touching his neck. Nothing happened.
"Rogue, they're robots! Your powers are no good!" Colossus shouted.
"Damn it!"
Suddenly, Magneto launches awning toward Rogue. Colossus leaps for her and rolls with her out of the way.
"Thanks."
She looks down.
"Peter, your leg…"
Colossus's leg has been cut by the awning.
Outside were the rest of the group was still plugged in, Bobby looked over at Peter's leg and saw that it was bleeding.
Bobby looks over to Colossus. His leg is bleeding.
"What are you—"
The owner is enthralled by the game, no longer paying attention to Bobby and John.
"John, it's real." Bobby said.
"What?"
He looks at Peter and saw the cut.
"Wait. If it's real than why aren't we really dead?"
"I don't know. I'm confused. Maybe it's just wounds alone."
Bobby then iced up and launches himself at the owner.
"Turn it off!"
John runs over to the others.
"Don't unplug them!" The owner shouted.
John stopped and turns.
"Why shouldn't I?"
"Because if you do, you'll kill them. The game has to be turned off first—and only I can do that!"
"Then do it." Bobby growled.
The owner stands up. Bobby is still iced.
"I wanna see how it ends."
Meanwhile, Kitty, Rogue, and Colossus search for Magneto in a maze.
"Okay, this isn't fun anymore." Kitty said.
"Was it ever?" Rogue responded.
"This guy means business," Colossus spoke. "We gotta get out of here.'
Suddenly, Magneto stands before them. He lifts his hand, and the walls of the maze begin to enclose on the mutants.
Bobby watches the monitors in horror.
"Wait. How did you even know to put Magneto and Mystique in there? If you didn't know we were mutants?" John asked.
The owner smiled.
"Mystique has used this facility before. I've helped loads of super villains with their training."
"Why?"
"Like Mystique, most of them pay well. And, if Mystique learns that I've killed you, she'll probably pay a hefty sum to yours truly." The owner answered.
John flicked his lighter.
"That's it, I'm frying him."
"No, John!" Bobby yelled. "You can't, or they'll die!"
"Good boy."
He turns to the monitor, maliciously.
"Now watch them squirm."
"No!"
Bobby slammed his fist into the owner's face.
"John! Unplug them!"
"Got it!"
John runs to the others and deactivates their headsets.
Suddenly, Kitty blips away.
"Kitty!" Rogue yelled, then looked in fear at Colossus.
"Peter what's going on?"
"I dunno"
Before they could speak again, Colossus and Rogue collectively come to. Rogue is up in no time, approaching the owner.
"All right, what the hell?"
"Look, I didn't mean it!"
"Oh, we see. You didn't mean to kill us. Everything's okay, then." Kitty said.
"Like hell. I'm crushing him," Peter said, punching his two fists together while walking towards him. But before he could do anything, Kitty grabbed his shoulder.
"Whoa, Peter. Sarcasm."
"Oh, right."
John rounded on the owner.
"This was all 'bout money, right?"
"Of course." The owner replied.
"Well, you tried to kill us. You failed. End of story?" John asked.
"I got nothing against you."
"Good. See you 'round."
Bobby's eyes widen.
"Wait, that's it?"
"Yup, that's it." John said and signaled for the others to follow him. "Let's go."
