Disclaimer: I don't own anything Super Smash Brothers related. Just a fan of the franchise.
Thanks for the feedback, guys! Any specific detail that I messed up on (Such as confusing Mismagius and Misdreavus) has been corrected. Sorry for not updating sooner. I got a little lazy and then a little thing called life stepped in. Anyways, onto chapter 3!
The rain had stopped, and the night air smelled wet. A cool breeze rippled through the grass that the Chosen Few were now crossing. Lynn's floaty dress did not seem so out of place anymore with an actual breeze floating through.
"This place looks a bit creepy at night," Ri commented to Drey.
Drey didn't respond but she was thinking the same thing. The Mansion, usually so beautiful by day looked eerie at night. Nervously, she gripped a white stone with a dragon carved into it that she always had with her. It usually sat on the crown she usually wore, but she'd decided to take it off for the trip and carry the stone in a more private place. She didn't want people knowing the power it contained within it.
The group nervously walked towards the Mansion where it sat looming uninvitingly. Aside from Ri, nobody else admitted that they were all a tad nervous. The only person who seemed oblivious to the tense atmosphere was Cammy. The little girl was humming a little tune to herself and then quite suddenly exclaimed, "Look at all those stars!" she pointed at the sky where there seemed to be millions of them, shining brighter than usual. "I've never seen so many!"
It was with that statement that everybody seemed to ease up a little. They stared up at the sky in awe, admiring it for a couple of minutes before Jeka cleared his throat. "We should be moving. We're already a bit late."
"I cannot believe the gall of those people! Thinking they can come in as late as they want!" Peach said, frustrated. "Are we supposed to wait forever?"
"You always arrive late to parties that we're invited to," Snake pointed out.
"There's a difference between being fashionably late and then being rudely late!" Peach snapped.
"Of course there is," Pikachu grumbled sarcastically. Everybody's temper seemed to be escalating the more time passed and the Chosen Few still hadn't arrived.
"Damn them," Luigi muttered. "I bet the pasta's already cold."
"I hope this will not be your attitudes when they come. You must be friendly, and courteous," A disembodied voice stated. Everybody turned to Master Hand who was tapping his giant fingers against the floor in an impatient way. He was growing tired of the Smashers' complaints. I've spoiled all of them entirely too much... He thought, disturbed.
It was with this thought that the lights suddenly went out.
"What the-" Falco yelled.
"Soo, who wants to knock?" Brandon asked. They'd all been staring at the great doors to the Mansion for what seemed like hours. In reality, it was just a couple minutes.
"I will!" Rio piped up, her heart hammering. I wonder if Ike will remember me... she thought to herself.
"I could do it, I'm pretty good at ringing doorbells myself," Zack joked.
"Actually, I think I should do it," Drey responded. "As a princess, I know the etiquette of handling such affairs," she explained loftily.
"Who died and made you queen?" Elizebeth muttered nastily.
Drey turned on her, her eyes flashing dangerously. "What did you say?"
"Boy, this is going to get ugly," Ri muttered under her breath. Unfortunately, this comment was heard by Cammy who decided to question it.
"What's going to get ugly, Ri Ri?" Cammy asked cheerfully. Drey and Elizebeth who already had their hackles raised, rounded on Ri too, who clamped a hand over Cammy's mouth. Zack helpfully tried to intervene by saying that Ri didn't mean any harm but Drey and Elizebeth weren't buying it. Somehow, the others got dragged into the argument too.
"I don't care how long your hair is, stay out of this!" Elizebeth hissed to Rio who had tried to helpfully separate the three girls.
"Excuse me?" Rio yelled. "Say that one more time about my hair, if you please!"
"Would you all just shut up?" Sean said, but nobody was listening to him.
"If we all just got along maybe we could've been inside..." Brandon said, but nobody was listening to him either.
Cammy, Jeka and Lynn watched interestedly, but made no effort to try and stop the fray.
It was Joeb who finally managed to get through the fight and peering at the button he smirked. "I do so love pressing buttons," and saying so he pressed the doorbell button. Almost immediately the door swung open into total darkness, but only half of their group that wasn't arguing seemed to realize what happened.
"This doesn't look very welcoming," Lynn observed.
"Maybe they're playing hide and seek! That's why it's dark!" Cammy exclaimed excitedly. "I'll find them first!" and before the others could protest she bounded into the darkness.
"Wait! ...Cammy," Sean said weakly once the darkness had swallowed her up. "Ah, what do we do now...?"
"I guess we should follow her in," Joeb said. Brandon, Jeka and Sean all nodded nervously. The four males entered the Mansion. Lynn, on the other hand waited for the argument amongst the girls to die down which didn't take long once Drey realized that the doors had opened.
"Hey! Who opened the door? Why is it dark?" she exclaimed, forgetting entirely about the argument.
"I do not know..." Lynn said. "It would seem as though Camelia and the other boys have already gone in."
"We should probably head in too then," Zack decided. Ri nodded in agreement, and together they also went in, followed closely by Drey.
Rio, who found Elizebeth and Lynn's cold and strange presences highly nerve wracking also didn't want to tarry outside for too long, so she said, "Please! Wait for me!"
Lynn and Elizebeth were the last people to walk in, and once they'd stepped in the door creaked shut, like a predictable horror story. The hair on the back of Elizebeth's neck prickled upward. "Hello?" she called out, feeling stupid. This is exactly how people die in horror movies, by drawing attention to themselves she chided herself.
"We're over here!" Ri called out.
"Whose we?" Elizebeth asked.
"Ri, Zack and myself!" Drey called out. Lynn noted that her tone seemed a pitch higher. Lynn herself welcomed the darkness and found no reason to be afraid of it. It was where she found herself most comfortable though she didn't voice these thoughts out loud. Everybody would think she was weirder than what they already thought of her.
"Where's Rio? Didn't she follow you?" Lynn asked, as they followed the place where they heard Ri and Drey's voice.
"She did?" Zack asked, puzzled. "That's strange... Rio?" He called out. There was no answer.
"I don't like the sound of this," Ri said, shakily.
"What sound?" Zack joked weakly. "It's pretty quiet here." The others laughed nervously.
"I'm sure she took a wrong turn," Elizebeth said, trying to be rational. "Let's try to stick together, shall we?"
Scarcely had they taken two steps when the light flickered back on, followed by a series of angry bleeps.
They all exchanged looks of confusion. "What was that?" Drey wondered. A moment later Mr. Game and Watch popped out one of the corridors, followed by Pikachu.
"Pika pi!" Pikachu squeaked, pointing at the people.
"Ohhh, it's so cute!" Ri cooed.
There were more bleeps coming from Game and Watch but nobody understood what he were saying. Frustrated, the 2-D character pointing to himself and then to the hall in a gesture that seemed to be saying, "Follow me!"
The others looked at each other, shrugged and began to follow him. "Wait!" Elizebeth said suddenly. "We're forgetting about Rio."
"Pikachu? Pika, pikachu," Pikachu responded, but since none of them understood Pikachu they all looked confusedly at him. Except for Lynn.
"It would appear that this Pokemon is trying to reassure us of Rio. Perhaps he knows where she is, and we should not worry about her, but keep moving on," Lynn said. Pikachu faced her with a sharp, curious gaze in his eyes, but didn't say anything. The Pokemon could sense something strange within Lynn, but what it was, Pikachu did not know but he knew he did not like it.
Mr. Game and Watch led them down a hallway and then opened the door and ushered them in. To their surprise, the others were already inside this vast room. "This must be the great hall! You know where they have all the important announcements and stuff," Ri said excitedly. "I always see it on TV, when they announce tournament winners!"
The hall was magnificently furnished with round tables everywhere. There was a huge stage at the front where Master Hand floated.
"They don't seem too happy," Elizebeth commented. She was staring at the Smashers who were seated. All of them had annoyed expressions on their faces.
"We must be really late," Zack responded. "They must be hungry." Nervously, he ducked behind Lynn who was also a little cowed by the annoyed aura she could feel emanating from the Smashers.
"I guess the others are already here..." Drey said absentmindedly. Her eyes scanned the room over Joeb, Jeka and Cammy who were already seated and landed on her target - Link. He was talking to Zelda at the moment, but when he felt Drey's gaze on her's he looked at the girl and Drey blushed furiously and swiveled her eyes elsewhere.
Zack shrugged his shoulders. "Beats me."
"Ah, I suppose you are the rest of the lucky winners?" Master Hand said in a beaming voice. "I'm quite glad to see that you made it here. I must apologize about the little black out. Pikachu here has a certain fondness for chewing through certain wires," he said with a very forced laugh.
Elizebeth cringed. Sounds like Pikachu is going to be in a lot of trouble later on... spying the little Pokemon, she noted that he also seemed quite abashed and felt sorry for him.
"Now that we're all here, the introductions can begin! I would like each of you to formally come up onstage and introduce yourselves." A loud growl punctuated his sentence that seemed to come from Wario's stomach.
"What?" he asked, defensively. "I haven't eaten in ages, so cut me some slack!"
"He sounds charming," Ri commented sarcastically to Zack who grinned.
"Er... Maybe instead of formal introductions, we should get to know the fans by ourselves while we eat?" Zelda called out helpfully. Link nodded in agreement.
"Hmm... I suppose so. A most excellent idea, Zelda! Yes, that is what we shall do. Don't be afraid to roam around getting to know one another! The food shall be here right... Now!" and saying so, the giant hand snapped his fingers and steaming trays of food appeared quite suddenly on tables off to the side.
"Me first!" Wario yelled, and scrambled to the buffet line. A bunch of other Smashers also ran in haste to the food. The more polite Smashers began milling about talking to the newcomers.
Ri wrinkled her nose in disgust at Wario and Bowser who hadn't even exited the buffet line before starting to shovel food into their mouths, before turning to Zack. "Shall we go around then?"
"After you, m'lady." Zack bowed. She smiled and went ahead, Zack following in tow.
Elizebeth didn't exactly know what to do at this point. She'd never been good at making friends. She supposed she had once upon a time, but that was before all her friends betrayed her. She sighed to herself. I shouldn't even be here... This whole thing is about making friends and I'm no good at that... Which is exactly what they were hoping for... She thought, thinking about her so called "friends" who had entered her into this tournament.She noted that even Lynn was going around, making herself at home with Lucario and Lynn was downright creepy, though she'd never admit that to Lynn's face.
Lynn Dawn... A voice penetrated Lynn's head and she warily turned to Lucario.
"You can speak?" she asked, keeping her tone neutral. But she was faintly surprised.
Only in your mind... Otherwise, I am like every other Pokemon who can only communicate by saying their name. I can sense your aura, you know.
"Can you?" she asked.
Oh yes, and here is a warning for you. Control your emotions, for it will be your downfall someday if you cannot.
"Is that a prophecy or a threat?" Lynn asked in a challenging voice.
It could be both if you don't heed my words... Bad things are about to happen in this Mansion. When I told Master Hand about these feelings I was experiencing he just laughed me off. But I am here to warn you and to guide you. Do not let your guard down.
"Why me?" Lynn dared to ask.
I believe that you have a very important part to play, but whether for good or bad, I cannot tell yet... Lucario's crimson eyes pierced Lynn's eyes with such severity that she could feel it cut through her very thoughts and heart. All I can sense from you right now is that your aura is very dark and not very promising... Take care.
"Wait!" Lynn yelled, but Lucario drifted away slowly, not deigning to respond. He'd said everything she feared about herself and more puzzling things besides. She didn't know exactly what to make of it yet.
"Excuse me," Rio said, accidentally bumping into Samus. "Sorry!"
"Clumsy, aren't you?" Samus responded coolly, before leaving.
Rio blushed. Why is everyone so mean? she wondered. Samus was only the third Smasher she'd bumped into. Well at least it wasn't Peach. She'd flay me alive... she shuddered. She and the princess of the Mushroom Kingdom had never been on good terms on account of Dark and Peach's rivalry. Dark and Peach had always clashed and since Rio was the sister of Dark, she was also subject to Peach's dislikes. She could not even remember a time when Peach had been particularly pleasant towards her. The Mushroom princess was so wrapped up in Rio's thoughts that she actually saw the Mushroom princess far away, conversing with Jeka. Scowling, Rio started to back away, twisting her head towards the direction she intended to walk before she slammed into something very hard.
"Ow!" she complained, rubbing her nose. "I'm so sorry! I've been bumping into everybody all day, I'm just very, very clumsy, please don't mind me!" she cringed, closing her eyes.
"Don't say sorry," a faintly amused voice responded, making her eyes pop open. She knew that voice.
"Ike?" she asked, and was faintly startled to find her cheeks growing very hot.
"You sound way too surprised to see me," he noted, an eyebrow raised.
"N-no, it's just that ah..." Rio shook her head, trying not to think how good he looked with that eyebrow arched up and said, "I didn't think..."
"You tied your hair up," he observed, cutting her off.
"Yes, that is because..." Rio said. Why am I so flustered?
But before she could clear her jumbled thoughts, he took a step closer and reached one of his muscular arms over her neck, making all coherent thoughts leave. She took in a deep breath, taking in his masculine scent. She could sense that he had been training hard before he'd been called here. Even without cologne he smells so nice... He was touching her hair now, caressing it, it felt like, before she felt her hair come undone from the bun she had tied it to and it tumbled down over her shoulders. His hand moved down her hair, trapping a section between his fingers. He held the lock to his face as if he were about to graze his lips over it, before letting it drop over her shoulders.
"Much better," he murmured slyly, smiling at the expression of shock, and pleasure that flushed her face. "Though," he added in a much more conversational tone, "A lot longer since I saw it last."
Somebody cleared their throat behind Rio, effectively ruining the moment and the angel whirled around, her long, pink hair whipping Ike in the face. A very angry Peach with a confused Jeka stood there. She strode over to Ike.
"What do you think you're doing?" she hissed to Ike who looked abashed.
"What's going on?" Rio whispered to Jeka who shrugged.
"I have no idea, but that Peach sure knows what feisty means."
Gross... Rio couldn't help thinking. Her expression must have showed on her face because Jeka laughed.
"I think you're jealous," he sang under his breath.
"Don't be ridiculous," she snapped, turning to face Peach who had slid an arm around Ike's waist, effectively making her jaw drop.
What is going on here?
"So sorry you couldn't be here to hear the news, though I thought Ike may have informed you since you two are such great friends," she said. "But Ike and I are in a relationship right now, which means one thing," she said, seemingly unaware of Rio's crestfallen face. "Back off." And with that she steered Ike away from Rio, who could not believe what she'd just heard.
"Yikes," Jeka muttered. "The woman's definitely feisty. She could have fooled me though, I thought she was coming onto me for a second."
I don't get it... I thought Ike liked me... Rio couldn't help thinking. Ice seemed to be spreading over her heart, followed by a slow, deep and painful ache.
"Rio?" a voice asked. It was Cammy. "Are you okay?"
"Not right now, Cammy," Rio said, trying to swallow her tears. "I... I think I'm going to head to bed early." Saying so, she rushed off.
"What happened?" Cammy wondered, her hands playing with a bright red tie.
Jeka shook his head in a sympathetic way. "Looks like she just got her heart broken."
Cammy cocked her head at Rio's retreating figure before looking at Peach and Ike who were facing away from her, holding hands. She didn't know Rio that well, but she already considered her a friend and she was thinking about ways to make the both of them pay. Before she could delve more into this thought however, a large hand clamped over her shoulder, making her squeak.
"My tie, you little squirt!" a humongous ape thundered. Jeka turned around, his eyes widening at Donkey Kong. The ape was larger in person, and his normally friendly face held a look of impatience.
"Cammy! Couldn't you have stolen Jigglypuff's flower instead?" Jeka said.
"What's the fun in that?" Cammy asked, nonchalantly. She grinned mischievously at Donkey Kong and asked. "Are you looking for something?"
"Yes, you little imp. My tie!"
"Your what? I haven't seen it," Cammy giggled, hiding it behind her back. DK growled and bodily lifted the little girl in the air, making her scream in delight.
"DK! Put that girl down!" Captain Falcon ordered. Next to him stood ROB and Brandon who didn't seem all that surprised that Cammy was already in some sort of trouble.
DK sheepishly put the girl down, but not before nicking the tie back.
"Can't you stay two minutes without getting into trouble?" Brandon sighed, running a hand through his hair and looking at the little girl.
"No," Cammy stated flatly, annoyed that Brandon was sounding very parent-like.
Brandon seemed taken aback at Cammy's sudden change in attitude. What did I say? he thought to himself, puzzled. Then he shrugged to himself and turned back to Captain Falcon who was explaining the way ROB functioned to him. ROB as a robot was very fascinating to Brandon, and Jeka, who normally wasn't into this stuff, also stopped to listen as well.
"ROB may have an excellent artificial intelligence to speak for himself and stuff which includes emotion, loyalty and all workings of things only exclusive to humans, but that still doesn't mean you can't reprogram him to do different things, like obey only you. Tabuu registered it this way so that if his host of ROBs ever rebelled against him, he could make them robots. Fortunately, the only ROB who survived the Subspace Emissary, otherwise known as the Ancient Minister, was strong enough to rebel."
"Wait, that's the Ancient Minister?" Jeka asked abruptly, looking at the robot, who in turn faced him.
"Yes, not many people know that, and ROB prefers that nobody call him that name anymore." ROB bowed his head in silent agreement. "Most people think that ROB is just some minion that we experimented on to become more powerful and to join our side. But this ROB is really the Ancient Minister, who joined us once he realized that all his minions were dying at the expense of Tabuu's dreams."
"Interesting," Brandon said. "I never knew that. I'd like to study ROB a lot more in depth someday." Mathematics, the sciences and engineering had always fascinated Brandon and right now, he was looking at a leap into the future regarding artificial intelligence. The prospect of taking an in-depth look at ROB was quite fascinating.
But Cammy didn't think so. She yawned widely, causing the Smashers to look at her. "I think its bed time for this one," Jeka said, smirking. He strolled away.
Cammy protested, "No! I'm not sleepy!" she said, but she could feel her eyelids were growing heavier and heavier.
"I could put her to sleep. I'm pretty sure it's time for the Smasher children to go to bed too. You'll be sleeping with them, of course," Zelda said, popping in on the conversation. She'd met Cammy beforehand and like with most children, Zelda had adored the little girl and the girl liked her too. Zelda proffered her hand and Cammy sleepily took it.
"I'll join you too," Link offered.
Zelda smiled, "Thank you, Link." Together they walked out the hall, but not before Drey came between them.
"Princess Dreygon!" Zelda said, surprised. Though Zelda was pleasant with most people, there was something she did not like about this dragon princess from the moment she'd met her.
"Please, call me Drey," Drey responded, charmingly, but her crystal blue eyes were centered on Link. "I was wondering if I could accompany you as well... To of course get to know you better." And also so that Zelda and Link aren't alone. Who knows what might happen? Drey thought. I have to be good friends with Link! I just have to, before Zelda steals him away.
Link smiled at Drey, making her heart beat faster. "It's fine. You are always welcome to join us. How do you like the Mansion so far?"
"I love it! It is amazing, although quite different from my home. I do miss it though, as I am sure you do yours," she said.
"I miss my home a lot," Link said wistfully. "Ordon will always be my home. But I get to visit during the holidays, so it isn't too bad, plus I have people here who remind me of home," he concluded, smiling at Zelda who blushed, but smiled back.
Ha, take that, Drey! Zelda thought smugly to herself.
"I suppose that's something," Drey said reluctantly. "Though your backgrounds are, I am sure very different. After all, Zelda is a princess and hails from a different province, and you are from Ordon." The smile on Zelda's face slid off right off.
Ha! Score one for me. Zelda thinks she can best me. She's not even close!
"But aren't you also a Princess? I'm sure your upbringing is far more different from Link's than mine is," Zelda countered hotly.
"That seems true," Link admitted, though he was clueless to the sudden rivalry that seemed to spark up between the two princesses.
"I'm not your traditional princess!" Drey snapped, causing Link to give her a strange look. She felt her white stone begin to glow and forced herself to calm down. It would not do to show them her true power. Not to Link anyway. "What I meant to say is that I wasn't born in a palace amongst nobles and such," she began. "Dragons raised me and I am one of them," she finished.
There was an uneasy silence.
"A-A dragon you say?" Zelda said nervously, and Drey was pleased that the Hylian princess seemed scared.
"Not one, many," she couldn't help bragging.
"I'm sure you'd make a quite formidable opponent," Link said, smiling serenely. "You already have Zelda frightened!"
"I'm not scared!" Zelda protested. She was now carrying a sleeping Cammy whose eyes tightened in annoyance at Zelda's voice who'd momentarily gone loud. The Triforce is on my side... she thought to herself, trying to calm herself. She cannot hurt me.
Meanwhile, Zack and Ri had made a game of who could meet the most Smashers in ten minutes but by the end of it it seemed like Zack had won.
"I got the Mario brothers, Zelda and Sheik, which counts as two characters by the way," Zack added.
"Does not!"
"Does too! Anyway I also managed to meet Ganondorf, Jigglypuff, Pokemon Trainer and Falco."
"Jigglypuff doesn't even count if you can't understand the Pokemon!" Ri whined. "So that means just six for you."
"More like eight, because I'm such a charmer," Zack winked. "How about you?"
Ri sighed. She knew she lost. "I got Toon Link, the Ice Climbers, which counts as two characters by the way," she said, mimicking Zack's earlier line. "Lucas, Olimar and Yoshi."
"So six then. Sounds like I'm the winner with eight!" Zack did a little victory dance that made Ri laugh.
"So now comes my reward," Zack said. "Since I won and all."
"We never discussed rewards and losses!" she protested. "This is unfair!"
"Don't worry, Ri. I won't collect... Yet." He snickered evilly.
"What is it you're collecting?" Ri asked, frowning.
"You'll see!" Zack said, humming. "Shall we get some food?"
"The food here is delicious," Joeb said, turning up out of nowhere, his mouth full of food. He was eating what seemed like a large potion of honey baked ham.
"Thanks for the input, Joeb," Zack said. He proffered his arm to Ri, who took it, and together they headed off to the buffet table where not much food seemed to be. Along the way Lucas joined them as well, somebody that Ri thought fondly of.
"Do you mind if I join you?" the timid boy asked.
"We mind very much," Zack said which made the young boy pale.
"He's just joking," Ri assured him. "Come along with us." The four loaded their plates with chicken, gravy and rice before heading back to the table where Joeb was sitting. Joeb had already started conversation with Pit, who was also sitting at the table.
"Any chance you could you take a peek at the heaven registry, and see if my name's on it?" Joeb asked, jokingly.
"It uh... That's not my job... My job is to protect Palutena..."
"Then why did Palutena send you here?" Joeb pressed him.
"Because she doesn't need it anymore. She sent me to watch over the Smashers so that I'd know how the human world is like," Pit explained. He suddenly noticed Ri's feather behind her ear and reached over the touch it. Surely it could not be... But before he could touch it Ri swiped his hand away angrily.
"Clearly you don't understand boundaries," she snapped. "I'll thank you not to touch any part of me." Startled, Pit dropped his hand away.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know..."
"It's fine," Ri said, but her tone was anything but fine. "Just don't go near my feather," she said, icily. Zack raised his eyebrows, surprised at Ri's abrupt change in attitude, but he decided not to say question it.
An awkward silence followed her little outburst. Joeb broke it by saying, "So... Anyone heard of Kersplancho's Logistics?"
"I think this is probably the third time I've heard you say that," Zack said rolling his eyes, but glad that the silence had ended.
"W-what's Kersplancho's Logistics?" Lucas asked, trying to forget the little outburst he'd just witnessed, for he liked Ri very much but Pit was frowning. There was something quite off about Ri, and the way she'd yelled right when he was about to get that feather. If that feather was what Pit thought it was then... He'd have to keep a more careful eye on this girl who seemed amiable at first glance.
Elizebeth was alone as usual. She hadn't bothered to get to know any of the Smashers because she knew that probably none of them would really appreciate her. She was quite used to being alone so it never really bothered her. Much.
She had taken to exploring the Mansion instead and was quite interested in the many rooms she found that she might be using over the course of the year. She had already visited the kitchens, where the cooks had ushered her out hurriedly. She'd seen the main hall, had walked up the grand staircase to view study rooms, gaming rooms and rooms with many beds that weren't occupied. She supposed that these beds were meant for them.
She had now wandered down the basement, where Mr. Game and Watch and Pikachu seemed to come out from earlier. The basement was dimly lit by a singular flickering light bulb that shadowed most of the rather high ceiling and the corners of the basement. There was the steady rhythm of something going drip! Drip! Drip!
Looks like there's a leak somewhere here that they need to get fixed she thought to herself. She smiled to herself, noting that even something as perfect and grand as Smash Mansion had its flaws. She listened to the dripping noises and discovered that it belonged to a leaky faucet, next to a large deep freezer. She turned the knob the whole way, and though the water stopped dripping the dripping noise still persisted. Drip! Drip! Drip!
There's more than one leak? She thought to herself, confused. She ignored it, and opened the deep freezer, but there was nothing in there either except for loads of meat.
Uninterested, she began to walk deeper into the basement until she felt a drop on her forehead. She reached for her head and felt something wet there and brought it to her face. Though the basement was dank and dim, she could tell that the liquid that had fell on her head was dark and not clear. This isn't water.
A drop plopped onto her head again. Horrified, she took several steps away, and looked for a crack in the wall that was causing the liquid to fall. Instead she saw something quite different.
Sean Whitefield was hanging from the ceiling, his face purpled, his eyes popping out. A rope was tied around his neck, and his hands were tightly bound behind his back. The rope around his neck was attached to a hook on the ceiling. His button down shirt had been ripped open, and somebody had taken a knife to his bare chest, and carved words out. Blood was still dripping from these wounds, gently, steadily, yet the message was still readable:
YOU
ALL
ARE
NEXT
First murder down! I originally hadn't planned a murder to be this soon, but I thought, what the heck? Why not. So here's the first murder!
Once again, I'm sorry that I took forever to update. I do hope this chapter made up for it. Please review to tell me what you thought! Bahbyeee