Chapter 3: Welcome Part 3
7:30 P.M. Day One
First Floor
Dining Hall
By the time the stragglers caught up with the rest, the tour had moved into the dining hall. Said Dining Hall was filled with priceless antiques and each of the chairs were finely crafted. In the center of the room rested a large, elegant dining table with a white cloth draped over it.
"As you can no doubt surmise, here is where all major meals shall be had while the killing game is in session. The kitchen, through the door in the back, is well stocked for everyone, though I'm told not all of you have a normal diet at this time. Please try and refrain from eating and leaving crumbs outside of this area, if only to cut down on my own work load."
"And why should we bother?" Ryan asked aggressively, "Why should we be accommodating at all for someone helping the nutjob that did this to us?!"
"I can assure you I'm not on this staff of my own free will, though I can't say much more than that on the subject." Sebastian replied. "What I can say is that my only desire is seeing that all your needs are met, and that each of you is comfortable during your stay here … however long that may be." With that, the Butler turned and made his way out of the hall.
The Gargoyle scoffed. "Yeah, right." He turned to the others. "Any reason why we ain't just ganging up on them all right now? We could be forcing that psycho to let us go free already."
Gary seemed unconvinced. "Yeah, because clearly we can use force to get what we want from that guy. I somehow doubt it." Most of the others seemed to agree with him.
"Hey, I ain't planning to stay a rock for the rest of my life, okay?!" Ryan declared, annoyed.
"And do you think I am?" The Ultimate Golem questioned, folding his arms. "That doctor's the only one who can reverse this, and he doesn't seem like someone who can be coerced or talked around. And killing him would just be counterproductive."
Ryan glared at his fellow rock-person, before skulking down the hallway after the butler. "Whatever." Tentatively, the others followed.
7:38 P.M. Day One
First Floor
Gallery
Along the south hall, near the foyer, rested a large gallery/museum. Inside there were countless works of art present; statues, vases, tapestries, assorted relics. But what really dominated space and attention within were the life-sized paintings strewn about the gallery, each depicting different individuals caught in some form of gruesome death. No one painting looked the same, yet they were all filled to the brim with anguish and despair, and elicited those very feelings in whoever viewed them. Dozens of the horrifyingly realistic paintings filled the hallway, with plenty of open space remaining for more throughout the corridor.
Currently, next to a discarded wig on a floor and a painting of a blonde woman in a kimono falling out an airlock, a couple of young individuals - a blonde European girl in a long-sleeved green-and-gray ensemble and an individual who looked an awful lot like a dark-haired boy in a skirt - were rather aggressively dry humping each other.
"Really?" Sebastian called incredulously as he led the tour group in. "If you must conduct yourselves like this, at least remain in your quarters."
Startled, the couple moved away from each other, the boy(?) bending down to pick up his wig. "Apologies, sir," the pale girl said, sounding oddly monotonous, "we weren't expecting the newcomers to come by so soon." She bowed slightly to the group. "Hello, I'm Mackenzie Alaester, the Ultimate Painter and caretaker of this gallery. I hope you enjoy my work here." She gave a shy smile on the last point.
Wig reattached, the other staff member - what else would these two be? - stood up and waved. "And I'm the Ultimate Executioner, Shiro Hayashi. If any of you get caught up on either side of a murder, I'll mete out the executions, while Kenzie here will immortalize your passing. Fun, right?"
The others disagreed. "Uh, no, not fun." Elle said, more than a little incredulous. "That sounds very much like it would be not fun at all, you frickin' psychotics."
Mackenzie, for her part, actually looked sad. "Oh, I'd hoped some of you might appreciate my artwork. My mistake." She turned and walked off, dragging a waving Shiro behind her.
After a moment, Sebastian spoke up again. "Yes, well, this is the gallery. You can look through here on your own time if you prefer, but speaking personally, I'd rather we move on now." With that, he led the way out of the room. No one complained.
7:45 P.M. Day One
First Floor
East Hallway - Infirmary
In the East Hallway, there was a white door along the hall. A medical symbol was emblazoned upon the door's surface. Inside, there was a young-looking man in a sleeveless white lab coat. He had a frown on his face as the Butler opened the door.
"And this is the Infirmary. Come here if you are feeling unwell, though please make sure it's serious. Mr. Sabrer is quite particular about this matter."
"Indeed I am," The man said, standing up to look at the newly-arrived group standing at his doorway, "Syd Sabrer, Ultimate Surgeon and someone who actually earned his talent. I didn't need to get anything added to me by a shady organization out of some mad desperation."
"I doubt that description's accurate to all of us." Teresa stated, at least trying to defend her fellow participants, "and even then, some of us clearly didn't get anything resembling what we may have wanted."
"Irrelevant, as far as I'm concerned," Syd replied, tersely, "but allow me to offer my own advice on top of the butler's here: unless your dying or already dead, stay out of my lab, understand?"
"And on that note, I think it best that we move on." Sebastian announced, clearly eager to avoid any escalating tensions. The touring participants followed him down the hall, while Syd quite firmly shut his door before returning to his desk. The work wouldn't do itself, after all. Well, probably.
7:52 P.M. Day One
First Floor
Sanctuary
Situated along the north hallway of the first floor was a large cathedral-styled room filled with multiple forms of religious paraphernalia - including shrines, and even texts from various religions. Several statues, each depicting different prominent icons could also be seen scattered across the room.
"Hmm," Alexis commented as the group reached the room, "quite the wide selection, but I don't see anything from my field of work. Bit disappointing, that."
"Apologies, but even this building has finite space." Sebastian responded. "If you intend to conduct any 'rituals', I'd advise them be somewhere else."
"Oh, I wasn't planning on performing any rituals here." Alexis assured the butler. "Honestly, I doubt any I know of really would help our situation." She paused a moment. "Or they'd require human sacrifices, and I somehow doubt anyone here would like to volunteer." She looked at the others. "Am I wrong on that score?"
"No, we're good actually. Seriously." Harris stated, looking understandably unnerved - a look shared by the rest of the young adults present, though Adrien just looked curious about the proceedings.
"Relax everyone," Alexis reassured the group, "That last part was just a joke." She put on a disarming smile for emphasis (some still doubted her words, though).
With nothing else to say, the group moved on.
8:00 P.M. Day One
First Floor
Grand Library
In the North Hallway, near the Sanctuary, lay a huge library with multiple levels that were only accessible through the use of stairs. In the center of the first floor rested a large reinforced desk, and behind it sat a silver-scaled humanoid dragon bedecked in jeweled armor.
"And this is the Library." Sebastian announced(in a low tone, it was a library after all) as he led the participants inside, "Feel free to check out any of the books here, though please keep them good condition, and please, abide by normal library rules and etiquette." He gestured to the oddly feminine-looking dragon at the desk, "This is the librarian, who I believe would prefer her own introduction."
"Indeed I would," the dragon-woman(?!) said, in a deep, reverberating tone, "Greetings, humans, I am Xolzrucronth, the Ultimate Dragonologist. Welcome to my domain."
Eric (oping to, for now, 'go with the flow' until an escape opportunity presented itself) simply raised a hand. "Yeah, um, no offense, but I'm pretty sure I won't be able to remember that name or how to correctly pronounce it, so do you have a preferred nickname, or…?"
The Dragon let out a low rumble. "You may simply call my Saino, then. That is the name I bore before my transformation." She returned to the book she'd been reading. "Now, unless you would like to read or check a book out, I would request that you move on from my domain promptly."
"Well, as you can see," The Butler said, already leading the way out of the library, "Miss Terazawa is rather protective of her 'domain', and it would be best not to dawdle, especially at this time of night. Come along."
8:10 P.M. Day One
First Floor
Conservatory
"Oh my, look a' this." Kelley said, sounding awed as they entered the next room. The Conservatory was a sprawling room, filled with lush foliage of various sorts and breeds. Most of the ceiling was blocked by a canopy of dark, twisted trees. There was an odd smell in the room, but the Banshee seemed undeterred as she gazed at the plants. "I've ne'er e'en seen this much greenery, an' I grew up on a farm. Had a nice lit-le gard'n an' ev'ryting."
"I assure you, Miss Devlyn," The Butler responded from the front of the group, "the plantlife in this room is far different than what would be found in the average garden or farm." As if to emphasize this point, a spiked vine very clearly slithered along the ground near the human(oid)s that had entered. "I'd suggest keeping your guard up if you're in here. Particularly if you enter alone."
The Banshee, suddenly looking nervous again as she stared at the moving foliage, audibly swallowed. "Uh, yes, ya might have a point there, sir." She nervously stepped closer to Sabishī and Brooke, the former of whom grabbed her hand for comfort and reassurance(they both needed it).
The Undertaker cleared her throat. "Um, no offense sir, but will this tour be over soon? I, uh, think a few of us have seen enough for today."
"Well, there's also a billiard's room, but none of you, admittedly, strike me as the type to care much for the game." Sebastian responded, never taking his eyes off the plants. "So, I suppose our next stop shall be the last."
8:17 P.M. Day One
First Floor
Common Hall
"This is the Common Hall. You'll find your names on the doors of the bedrooms you'll be using during your time here," Sebastian stated, gesturing at the bedroom doors along the hall of the lounge, "while my quarters are down the hall should you have any need of me."
The Common Hall was a large area containing a fireplace, a large sofa, several large throw pillows, a grandfather clock, and tapestries. Several suits of medieval knight armor also lined the walls between the various bedroom doors, each holding a decidedly authentic-looking weapon, from iron swords to steel maces to axes and spears.
"Hmm. Looks comfy at least." Adrien commented, a hand on his chin.
"Mmmm. The beds look comfy as well." Teresa noted, checking inside her own designated room. Ducking inside, she gave a fanged grin towards everyone else. "I think I'll be turning in early for the night. Evenin'." She shut the door quickly behind her.
After a moment, Sebastian spoke again. "Yes, well, if there are no current requests of me, I shall carry out my rounds around the mansion before retiring myself. To those it might concern there are plenty of garments in your quarters should you require a change of clothes," he actually managed to avoid looking in the direction of the transformed girls when he said that; oddly, they actually appreciated that, "and yes, the showers do work though please don't use the hot water to excess; it's being split between at least two dozen people, after all. Try to be courteous." Before anyone(probably Ryan, he'd had a sour-but-silent mood the entire tour) could comment on the absurdity of that request in a killing game, the Butler took his leave, heading down the hall and out of sight.
"… I'm gonna see about actually sleepin'." Brooke mumbled, stalking to her room without another word. Shawn and Harris had already gone into their respective rooms before the butler had even left (Harris nearly tripping in the process). Kelley let out a heartfelt "Sleep well, ev'ryone!", accompanied by a light wave, before quickly(to avoid the inevitable gazes) making for her room.
With nothing more worth saying, everyone opted to turn in for the night. They could make actual plans in the morning.
9:20 P.M. Day One
First Floor
Bedroom
Brooke was in her bedroom, trying to either get to sleep or at least avoid having a mental breakdown. The former wasn't working, and was contributing to the failure of the latter.
She hated this. That she was trapped in this mansion, that she was stuck in a killing game, and especially that, instead of even getting the flippin' consolation prize of getting the talent she'd been after, she had been turned into some sort of amphibious freak with a horror-film level of pain to go with it. She didn't want this. She wanted to go home. She wanted this 'talent' gone. She wanted the talent she'd signed up for! She-
There was a knock at the door. "Um, Brooke, are you still awake?"
It was Victoria.
Approaching the door and opening it, Brooke found the freshly minted Mummy standing before her, hands clasped in front of her. "I wanted to see how you were feeling. All things considered, anyway."
"How do you think?" she asked, sarcasm only enhanced by the coarse voice she now owned.
"About the same as I am, I'd assume." The Mummy countered. "Well, perhaps worse than me even. Your … transformation was clearly more painful than mine."
"'Painful' seems like something of an understatement, honestly. Though I'm sure your's was just as extreme. Didn't your body partially …" she trailed off, unwilling to say it. Her conversation partner, however, had no such problems.
"Yes, I rotted halfway to dust - really shoddy mummy preparation that -" that actually got a light chuckle from the Floridian, "but you had more … visceral things occur. There was no blood puddle that I could see around me when all was said and done."
Brooke went back to frowning (it was honestly surprising she still could with this new facial structure) at that reminder. "Yeah, if I'm still awake by then, I'll probably just duck into my shower when morning comes. Don't want blood on the bed when I change back … if I actually change back."
"Don't be like that." Victoria ordered, a hand coming to Brooke's shoulder. "I'm sure we'll return to normal in the morning."
"Why? Because the psychos said we would?"
"From what I've seen they haven't lied to us yet. Besides, though it's horrible to admit, they probably would ensure we kept changing day and night. It would be ideal for making us desperate to stop the pain."
"If there's supposed to be some confidence boosting in this, you're not selling it very well there," Brooke mumbled, under her breath.
"But that's not going to happen, alright?!" Victoria continued, hotly. "I won't give in to our captors, and neither should you. There has to be someone besides that Dr. Momota who can cure us, and when we escape this mansion we'll be able to find them. But for now, we need to stay strong, grit our teeth against the pain, and work on finding a way out." Her glowing eyes shone with determination. She held her other hand out to the other girl. "So, what do you say?"
Brooke actually felt speechless from that, well, speech from her fellow transformed person. She was still hopeful that they'd pull through, after everything?
Slowly, she lifted a clawed hand and gently grasped the bandaged one. "R-right. Right, we can't just give in to them. Yeah, he can't be the only guy who could reverse it. We-we just need to pull through and get everyone out of this building, a-and we'll be fine. Right, yeah."
"Good." Victoria smiled, somehow conveying warmth even through the change. "In the meantime, since neither of us seems to be particularly sleepy, wanna hang out? I don't think we should spend much time alone given where our trains of thought might lead us."
"Yeah, good point, I think." Brooke agreed, pulling back to let the girl through the door.
They had a long journey ahead of them. Just being two new friends at a sleepover sounded like a good place to start.
[16 participants remain]