Yay second chapter! This fic is really fun to write, I hope you like reading it as much as I like making it up :) In the upcoming chapter, the main chunk of the plot will unfold, and you'll find out who Mr. Boddy is. I'm not putting his real name in this fic because if you can't tell who he is by the description then you shouldn't be reading this story.

I forgot to say it last chapter, so here's my disclaimer now: In case you're so stupid to think that I am Mr. Miyamoto or somebody important like that, let me tell you now that I'm not. Therefore I own nothing.

Chapter Two: The Proposition

"You must be Mr. Boddy," Miss Peacock said, sounding bemused.

The man stepped out of the shadows and bowed. "The same," he said, smiling. "It's a pleasure to meet you at last, Miss Peacock. And the rest of you, too, of course. I was afraid that, in light of the storm, some of you may not make it." The man wore an impeccable black suit, with a red bow tie and white gloves. His black shoes were highly polished, and he looked very fine indeed- except that there was one thing in his outfit that looked like it shouldn't belong there. On his head, covering most of his wavy brown hair, was a bright red cap. On the front was a white patch, with a red letter "M" stitched in the middle.

Noticing this, Kolorado leaned over and whispered to Pauline, "I say, Ms. Scarlett, what do you suppose the "M" is for?"

She shrugged. "Maybe it stands for 'Mister'," she whispered back.

Not seeming to hear them, the somewhat short man continued. "I suppose that you all are wondering why I've called you here. Well, it's really rather a long story, but to keep it short, I'll just say this; I am very wealthy, and I've written all six of you in my will."

There followed a long silence as the guests soaked in what he'd just said. They were all in his will? Why? They didn't even know the man, let alone deserve a share of his fortune... His very large fortune, it looked like...

Finally Gadd spoke for everyone. "Now hold up there, young feller; did you say we're all in your will? Why would you put a bunch of strangers in your will, instead of family or somethin?"

Mr. Boddy shrugged. "I don't have any family left, and though none of you've met me, I know all about you-enough to have deemed you worthy of an equal portion of my great wealth. When I die, all of my valuables, cash included, will be distributed evenly between you six." He paused, and an odd gleam came to his sparkling blue eyes as he looked from face to expectant face. After a moment he continued. "Now, that will come to quite a lot, but imagine if it was only spread between five, maybe four or three, even. What if it was split evenly between only two of you, or possibly even ifall of the wealth was inhereted by just one?"

He was pleased to see that they were all listening intently now. "Obviously, a share of my loot will only go to surviving inheriters. The fewer of those that there are, the more money will go to the people still living."

Luigi didn't like where this was going. "So... what are you getting at?" he asked tenatively.

Their host gave an odd grin that gave him the creeps, but said nothing. Instead he turned towards Bootler and nodded slightly, and the ghost obediantly turned and floated away. A moment later he returned, carrying in his small arms a large stack of black boxes, tied with black ribbons.

Taking the boxes, Mr. Boddy said "What I'm getting at, Mr. Green, is an opportunity for some of you to become very, very rich indeed. Here," he said, pulling out a long narrow box with a neat green bow on top and handing it to Luigi. "A gift for you. There's one for each of you. Come get them but please wait to open them."

They each took their presents and looked them over curiously. A few of them were very heavy, but one or two were rather light. They were all different sizes. The guests sat back down where they had been and stared at Mr. Boddy, urging him to continue.

"Open them," he said, and they did. A few seemed hesitant, but most of them tore in immedeately, as though expecting all that wealth to be packed in the little box.When they did get them opened, though, they slowed.

Kolorado was the first one to tear open his box and pull out what was inside; a heavy brass candlestick. For a moment he looked excited, but upon seeing that it was just brass and not of much value, his face fell.

Pauline reached into her box and was surprised to find a revolver, old but apparently in working condition. She gripped the handle and stared at the weapon with wonder.

Tayce T. found a knife, which may have pleased her except that it wasn't a cooking knife; it was more like a hunting knife or a dagger. She ran her thumb up the blade experimentally.

The professor opened his box and produced a wrench. He made a face; he had dozens of wrenches. Why would he want another...?

Luigi, seeing that none of the other guests had been blown up or poisoned from opening their boxes, removed the top from his own and looked inside. He rolled his eyes as he pulled out a long peice of lead pipe. This guy knows more about me than I thought, he mused.

Miss Peacock had the lightest box. She opened it and found a long peice of rope, and when she pulled it out she was alarmed to find that it was tied in a noose. She put her hand on the knot and slid it up and down the rope medetatively, watching the loop tighten and grow again.

"I say, old chap, what's the big idea, eh?" Kolorado said, holding up his candlestick. "If you're going to give away worthless junk you ought to at least include the candle."

Mr. Boddy chuckled. "Look around, Colonel Mustard. I have given each of you a lethal weapon. My mansion is too far from civilization for anyone to ever find out what happens here tonight- too far even for anyone to hear the sound of a gunshot," he said. Miss Scarlette dropped the revolver like it had turned into a rattle snake. "Tonight, my friends, you will be given a chance to live on easy street. There's nothing to it, I assure you," he said, grinning maliciously.

Mrs. White looked at him, horrified. "Mr. Boddy, sir! You don't really mean for us to kill each other off, do you?"

"Why not? It's not like you know each other. There's no emotional bonds between any of you."

"You can't just dole out weapons and say 'go at it'!" Miss Peacock exclaimed.

"I can do anything I like, Peacock. I'm eccentric," he replied with an amused smile. "Anyway the choice is ultamately up to you, I suppose, but keep this in mind as well; just because you don't want to take advantage of this proposal doesn't mean somebody else won't, either. If you don't watch your back, you may end up with a knife in it."

Mrs. White looked at her knife distastefully, her wrinkly pick face taking on a somewhat greenish tint.

"This is crazy!" Luigi said, his voice a note higher than usual. "I'm out of here! You can keep your money!" He stood and made for the door, but Mr. Boddy blocked the exit.

"You can't leave, Mr. Green. All of the outside doors are locked, and Bootler is the sole posessor of the key. And don't bother asking him, either. He's been instructed not to give it to anybody," he added as Luigi turned to look pleadingly at the boo, who turned away.

Professor Gadd shook his head. "What nonsense. You've got a few loose screws, I think, Mr. Boddy. If I could I'd tighten 'em up for you," he said, waving the wrench.

"Prof. Plum, I'm truly sorry you feel that way. I'm sorry any of you feel that way, if any of you honestly do. Either way I'm going to shut off the lights now. Then you can do what you will," their host said, stepping towards the light switch. "Are you ready? One... two..." he reached up and flipped down the switches, and the room was thrown into darkness.

Okay, so that's my second chapter. Bwaha, our beloved hero has become a psychotic eccentric filthy rich maniac XD Isn't it fun? RR; tell me what you think!