#ok I need to stop before I am entering full cringe mode again | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

cilldaracailin · 4 years

Text

Hammer To Fall

Hello my lovely Tumblr friends. Here is the next story in the Robyn and Taron series. Once this one is posted, I will have caught up with my AO3 which is a woohoo for me! But sad for you ‘cos you all will have to wait for more now! *Insert evil cackle here...*

Hope you all enjoy this story and don’t all come for me at once!

“So this was betrayal. It was like being left alone in the desert at dusk without water or warmth. It left your mouth dry and will break. It sapped your tears and made you hollow.”

It was the first time Robyn had ever left her office and stood outside the creche to take a phone call as she had never felt the need to raise her voice with such anger before. Emma had to double take as she watched her supervisor stand up as quick as lightening and rush out the door without a word, her phone to her ear. As she glanced out the window, she could tell that Robyn was about ready to blow, as she paced up and down the car park, her right hand moving with over exaggerated hand signals as she spoke. At first a smile lit up her face as she answered her personal phone, but it quickly turned to a frown and then a full-face glower, her words in furious whispers before she bolted for the entrance for the building. Emma had a vague idea of what the conversation was about and who Robyn was talking to and continued to watch out the glass window, Robyn stopping suddenly in front of her car that was parked in front of the green.

“I am actually going to end this call very soon Taron if you keep that tone with me.”

“Well I wouldn’t have to be calling you if you had of kept to our compromise.”

“And as I have already told you, I didn’t do it.”

“Pull the other one Robyn. I know you are still reading all the comments. Have been since that other picture from Elton’s was posted of us.”

“Are you actually kidding me? You really think I would go back on our promise to each other?”

“Well yeah of course. I know you can’t keep your fucking nose from the social media Robyn and you have completely broken my trust with you after what we talked about on the beach. You promised me you wouldn’t go out of your way to read anything and once again as soon as something else is posted off you go and you had to comment on it. You actually commented on the webpage that posted the picture of us too!”

“Taron! Are you even listening to yourself?”

“Well I don’t see myself listening to you anymore.”

“Ok you know what Taron. I don’t have time for this right now.”

“Because I do? I stepped off set to try and sort this fucking mess out.”

“I am in the middle of trying to organise a play for the kids as well as a parent’s night and this is a conversation that cannot be had right now.”

“Do you have any idea what shit you are putting Lyndsey through right now?”

“Do you have any idea how ridiculous you sound right now? I am going to end this phone call and seeing as how you are finding the time in your busy schedule to call me, you can figure it out again when it suits you because everything always comes down to you Taron and what you need and what works for you. What I feel or think never comes into play. It’s not like I went out of my fucking way to save your bloody life and open up my home to you. If you actually think I would do something like that Taron, you can forget about calling me until you get the sense in your head knocked back into place.”

Robyn ended the call and sat on the bonnet of her car, jumping a little as her phone rang nearly as quickly as she cut off the call with Taron. Looking to the screen, she glowered as his nickname appeared again.

“So, you are just going to hang up on me instead of talking?”

“Well when you talk such bullshit Taron and don’t listen to me, it’s one way to put an end to the conversation.”

“Why would I need to listen to you when I can see exactly what you have been up too online.”

“You actually think I would do that Taron?”

“Right now, Robyn I don’t know what you would do.”

“Well I know what I want to do is end this phone call once again. Like I said before, when you find time in your busy schedule to call me back and we can have a civil conversation, do it.” Robyn had her finger hovered over the end call button but she could hear Taron’s angry tones even as she held the phone away from her ear and frowning didn’t end the call.

“You have caused such a shit storm for me Robyn and my family. There are reporters outside my home in Aber waiting to pounce on them asking questions about me and you and the photo and you have made everything so much worse by saying something so fucking ridiculous as what you did.”

“Taron I didn’t write anything under the picture! I only saw the bloody article this morning and am just as surprised as you are over the whole thing.”

“Maybe you have finally got what you wanted from me Robyn. Maybe it was your fucking plan the whole time. Five minutes of fame while dragging me and my family into the shit as you roll away with your name in lights.”

Robyn had stood up and started to pace but stopped mid-step. “Really Taron? You are going to go that low with this? I’ve spent a whole weekend with your family getting to know them.”

“And it was your idea to go for a walk, get some air. Your fucking plan executed perfectly from beginning.”

“I had nothing to do with any of this Taron. Nothing at all and you ringing me with your accusations before talking to me is such a load of fucking bullcrap. I don’t know who that Robyn Quinn is but it is not me.”

“It’s you. You got what you wanted out of me. The name in the paper next to mine, the fancy dress for the party, a visit to my family and once you had enough of everything you just fucked me over. And the quote underneath just topped the bill too. ‘Nothing like a wet sexy rocketman to get a chick’s juices flowing.’ Classy Robyn.”

“Goodbye Taron.”

Robyn ended the call once more and turned her phone off, not wanting to even give Taron the chance to try and call her back again. She wanted to scream in complete and utter frustration. She never thought she would ever feel angry at Taron but she was so enraged with him. It had been a wonderful four weeks since she had left Aberystwyth and her relationship with Taron had just gone from strength to strength, finding herself taking a few late-night calls from him in New York from the set needing to rant or talk about how great his stunt had gone. Everything was so light and cheery and the distance between them was not as much of a burden as they thought it was going to be.

That was until a new picture had been printed of them while she was in Aberystwyth and it just happened to be of Taron carrying her into the ocean. It took four weeks before it circulated in through the media and whereas the photos from Elton’s party were treated mostly with respect the new one, which appeared in the papers that morning, created a storm and those trolls behind their keyboards went into full rumour mode and she could only imagine that it was the first time Lyndsey had to pull out every magical publicist trick she could to try and calm the frenzied media tempest down. Robyn had barely arrived in work when her phone rang with an extremely irritated Taron on the other end giving her shit over it all. She had actually arrived nearly an hour late because she was so caught up on social media, reading the tweets on her feed that mentioned Taron and her and Emma had called her to find out where she was. Fans were on speculation overload and everyone was convinced that Robyn had definitely known Taron beforehand and that they were on holiday in Florida and just happened to be caught out because of what happened, fans slating Taron for keeping their relationship a secret, other attacking Robyn for being with him.

As she scrolled through her Tumblr before work, she saw the link to the newspaper article that had printed the picture and story and it was the first time she had purposely looked at comments since she had left Taron’s home, keeping her promise to him completely about digging through the web for stories on them both. As she quickly browsed the horrible and disgusting words, there printed online for all to see was a comment that had been posted by a ‘Robyn Quinn’ and she had cringed at the revolting and sickening words that were under the name, her name. It was the first time she had ever seen another name like hers and it stung her to read the words that were associated with her name.

And then Taron’s call had just pushed her over an edge she was determined not to walk over and now she was beyond angry not just with the situation but with him as well. She knew the conversation they had on the beach in Aberystwyth about the media meant a lot to Taron and for them to come to a compromise was very important to him and Robyn had absolutely kept her promise to him and she had actually enjoyed how freeing it was not be so involved in social media and worrying about what everyone was saying about Taron or her. That was why she was so surprised by his initial reaction to the new photo but as his tone became more heated and his words more vicious and hurtful, she found herself almost at the boiling point with how mad she was with him. They had such an open communicative relationship, or so she thought and to hear him just run away with his words and not even wait to listen to an explanation and when she tried to talk to him he lost it with her, blaming her for the story and everything that came with it.

“Fucking arsehole.” Robyn muttered to herself and tried to compose herself and her mood by taking some deep breathes. Knowing her whole day was going to be completely distracted by Taron, she walked back towards the building and after entering the code into the keypad, into her office, slumping down into her chair, dropping her phone onto the desk.

“Do I even want to know?” Asked Emma as she took in Robyn’s face, a perfect mixture of angry frustration and sadness.

Robyn didn’t answer her but went back to her computer, typing up the programme of events for the parents Christmas night she was organising and although she was supposed to be concentrating the work piled up on her desk, her thoughts were constantly on Taron. So much so she had written his name six times in the programme. As the day wore on, the more infuriated she became with Taron, his phone call and his attitude. To have just rung her without letting her explain herself and to have the cheek and audacity to accuse her of writing something so disgusting about them. After everything they had been through together that he would even think she would disrespect him like that, or even herself like that.

When she arrived home that same Tuesday evening, her whole body and mind were filled with an unbelievable sense of betrayal. When she finally turned her phone back on, her voice mail was filled with distressing messages from parents, to accompany the phone calls and emails she had taken in her office constantly through the day. Along with the heated messages from parents, were narky voice mail rants from Taron, with each one his voice raising in angered tones, his words becoming more hurtful and unkind. It was the last voicemail that left tears in her eyes and a hole in her heart.

‘If you can’t be bothered to answer my calls then that speaks fucking volumes Robyn. You are a coward who can’t face the reality of the situation, one which you caused. Such childish behaviour, leaving me to deal with the consequences. I knew you never cared for or loved me. What an act. No wonder you got all of those roles. Batted your eyelashes and sang a song. Just stay the fuck away from me and my family. I trusted you Robyn, with my life and all I got was a fake fucking nobody who just wanted the attention. Maybe you should have just left me under that fucking shelf, bleeding. Probably would have been the best decision for everyone all round.’

It was his message that helped her make the quickest and probably most stupid decision she had ever made.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Matthew watched in the monitor as Taron messed up his lines for the eight time, calling cut looking to his assistant with a raised eyebrow. Taron was never one to be so unprepared or have an ability to fluff his lines and miss his mark so easily but so far since they started filming early that morning, Taron had very much been off his game.

“Taron do you need five?” He shouted over to him but his lead actor shook his head back in return. “Alright then. Let’s roll it again.” He waited for everyone to get into position and once he was satisfied, shouted action.

He held his breathe as Taron got to the line he had already made many mistakes with and sighed with relief as he finally said it smoothly and the scene could move on. Filming outside Bryant Park was chaotic and the weather although beautiful, the cold of a New York winter was really starting to creep in and he wanted to get the park scene filmed before the light became dark but it was becoming more difficult as Taron missed yet another line.

“Cut!” Yelled Matthew once again and he cringed when the curse Taron gave echoed to his ears. “Taron…” He could see the frustration in Taron’s eyes behind the Kingsman glasses as he jogged over. “Let’s just take some time out for a minute. Grab a coffee.”

“No Matthew. I can get it.”

“No offense Taron but you are not getting it. I am calling a fifteen-minute break.”

“Matthew…”

“I am speaking as your director now. Go and take a break and then come back to me with your head cleared and ready to get this scene done. There is only about three hours of light left.”

“No I can get it done. One more.” Insisted Taron.

“Taron…”

“One more.”

Matthew sighed. “One more but if you miss the mark then we are taking the break.”

With a nod, Taron ran back to his spot on the steps of Bryant Park and filled his lungs with the cold December air, trying to use the air to clear his head too. It had been a very long time since he had let his personal issues affect his work and his head at the moment was all kinds of messed up and endless thoughts of betrayal, confusion and irritation raced through his mind. Inside he could still feel the anger pulling at his skin, pinching him every so often to remind him of how the one person he thought he could rely on for anything had revealed her true colours in the most hurtful way. Through her perfect use of words. Robyn had always been so good with her words to manipulate everything to her way and he was so mad at himself for falling for her beautiful blue eyes and pretty face. Apart from his family, anyone he had ever let close to his heart had hurt him and Robyn had been no different but her broken loyalty was crushing him and each crush just squeezed his anger further to the surface.

“And action!”

Concentrating as hard as he could on being Eggsy, cool and composed Kingsman spy, Taron focused on the job at hand and not the fact that Robyn had not answered one of his voicemails, realising his nickname for her suddenly had a double meaning. She was a chicken, avoiding facing the truth, ignoring the mess she had made.

Matthew sighed with relief as Taron finally got the scene perfect and the take was able to continue as the characters spoke to each other at the bottom of the steps. He was relieved when the take was finally successful.

“And cut. Right lets just get set up so we can get them running up the steps and then we will move into the park.”

The camera was moved into position for the next scene and Matthew was checking his script notes when he heard a little commotion behind him.

“I am sorry but this is a closed set. You cannot be here.”

“Oh I was just looking for Taron.”

Matthew’s head turned when he heard a new accent around him. He was so used to hearing the twang of a New Yorkers, his ear easily picked up on the sweet tones of an Irish one. He noticed a woman standing beside their runner. Taron had told him that the woman who saved his life was Irish and blonde along with a many other things and he quickly put two and two together. This was Robyn.

“Joe it’s ok you can let her through.”

The runner stepped aside and the blonde walked his way. “Robyn?” He questioned.

“Yeah sorry for turning up like this. I was looking for Taron and knew he was filming at the park today. Thought it was the best place to find him. You are Matthew, right?”

“That is me.” Matthew held out his hand to shake hers. “It is nice to finally meet you. I have heard a lot about you from Taron. I am pleased you were around in that 7/11 to help him.”

Robyn gave a little smile. “Shooting this movie in December in New York? I am sure you are delighted.”

Matthew laughed. “Well we have been blessed with the weather so far and maybe you might bring a little extra Irish luck with you. You seem to do that no matter where you go.”

“Well don’t blame me if it starts to rain then.”

They laughed a little. “Taron never mentioned you were coming to see him.”

“Ahh yes. It’s kind of a surprise. I didn’t want him to know. I am sorry for just turning up like this. I know his filming schedule so just took a chance. Thought it would be a nice surprise for him.”

“Well I am very glad to see you. He has been in rotten form all day so maybe a visit from you might help sort his shit out.”

“Sort his shirt out?”

“Missed a few lines and marks. It is not like him at all.”

“Oh I see.”

“Can you wait another few minutes before you see him? I am a little behind schedule and if I can get this next scene in one take, I will be very happy and can give everyone a lunch break.”

“Yep that’s fine. I will hide here until he is done.”

“Thank you.”

Robyn stepped back and allowed Matthew to take his place back at the camera, making sure she was hidden behind the camera men and other people working on set. She only had to mention her name at the barrier and her cheeky chance had paid off, the words ‘Taron’s Robyn’ being enough to get her through security and up to where the director was working. Matthew shouting action, had her looking towards the steps of the park where Taron, dressed in his full Kingsman suit and glasses and another actor were about to engage in what looked like hand to hand combat, the director completely engrossed in the action of the scene and concentrating on the actors, making sure they made their marks.

With everyone distracted by the filming, Robyn took her chance and side stepping around the filming equipment, walked right onto the stone footpath in front of the steps, in full view of the camera and started to walk up the steps.

“Wait wait! Stop! CUT!” Yelled Matthew. “What the…” He watched as the young woman he had just been speaking too got in the way of the action sequence and right into the middle of the scene he was trying to film and had been desperate to capture all day.

Once he heard the words cut, Taron turned to look down to the director. He was sure he had met every move and not messed up this time and he froze when he saw an all too familiar face walking up the steps towards him.

“Robyn?” His breathe hitched in his throat and his stomach dropped as she took the steps two at the time to get closer to him. Dressed in jeans and a black hoodie, her hair tied up in a very messy pony tail, she looked exhausted and furious. “Robyn…” He stopped talking when she stopped two steps away from him and taking her hands from the pockets of her jumper, threw them up the air and towards him. He lost his balance for a second when yellow post-its flew at him and fluttered down on top of him.

“Calling me a coward and then not returning my calls? Cutting them off every time? Who do you think you are calling me a child yet a child knows how to stop and listen? You have absolutely no right to talk to me like you have done. I have been nothing but a friend to you Taron. You ring me accusing me of doing something but don’t have the decency to let me defend myself. You immediately assume that I would do something as sickening as that, under a picture of us and tell me that all I wanted was my fifteen minutes of fame? How dare you treat me like shit when I have given my whole heart to everything I have ever done for you.” Robyn was over gesturing with her hands but standing in front of him, remembering what he had done, she couldn’t help the furious tone of her voice. “We sat on that beach and we made a compromise, one I have followed through to no end, even deleting my twitter account and creating a brand new one twice to keep our privacy. I sat with you in my house, in my arms comforting you when you started to have severe anxiety about the media finding out about what had happened to you. I answered every phone call you made to me once our story got out and I calmed your fears and worries every time things got a bit too much for you. I stepped into your world without question and never once told you how it honestly made me feel, and went out of my way to book a fucking new flight to get to you because you needed me there at Elton’s party. I visited your home and gave my all to your family, your beautiful family who took me in as their own.”

As Taron took a step backwards up a step, she followed him putting her own foot on the next step and moving forwards. “I have been nothing but honest, truthful and open with you since you sat on the floor in the 7/11 bleeding out and you put your hand on my shoulder and told me I shouldn’t hold my emotions and thoughts in but as fucking usual I open my heart and my life to someone, a man, and they stamp all over it. You ambushed me on the phone and never even gave me the chance to explain anything Taron. You immediately accuse me of writing that comment because it was under my name. Call me out on it all you want Taron but I have done nothing wrong here. Executed the perfect fucking plan so my name could be splashed all over the media? Having stupid teenage girls call me a slut and money grabbing whore because I did something that saved your life? How is that fucking fair on me? Like I said on the phone to you yesterday, it always comes down to Taron and how Taron feels and what Taron wants. My feelings and emotions never come into play because I am not in the public eye. I am just a lowkey old supervisor who means nothing when it comes down to all, right? Can’t have your reputation fucking ruined. You’re the bloody coward Taron. Can’t face the truth of the situation. That someone is prepared to stand up for themselves. I really thought you were different but you are so far up your own egotistical arse. I don’t exist. Such a fucking coward.” Robyn turned to walk away but quickly turned face him again. “Also, don’t you think something as serious as saying it would have been a lot better if I had of just left you bleeding under the shelf is best said in person rather than through a voice mail? It’s so nice to finally know the truth of what you actually think of me. Enjoy your life Taron. Afterall, you only have it because I gave it back to you when your heart stopped beating.”

As quickly as she ran up the steps to confront Taron, Robyn ran back down them, hot angry tears falling down her cheeks. Rushing past the men and woman who operated the cameras and the other staff and crew on the movie who stood on the set, she brushed past Matthew not even catching his eye, and back towards the barriers that kept the public from entering the set. Her heart was racing so fast, she felt like she was going to faint and her stomach twirled in painful knots, her whole body starting to shake with sobs that left her body as she ducked under the red barrier and back onto sixth avenue heading down towards Hearld Square and Macy’s. Her walk was brisk and she constantly bumped shoulders with excited tourists as they enjoyed the cheery atmosphere New York provided at Christmas. She angrily wiped tears from her face with her sleeves and shoved her hands under her arms, trying to keep them out of the crisp cold air.

As furious as she was, she was completely heartbroken but after hearing all the of the voice mails on her phone and when he wouldn’t return her calls when she tried to ring him, she just saw red and refused to have anyone accuse her without an explanation and as Taron was so sure in his conviction of her, she wasn’t going to let him bully her into accepting his reasoning, not even letting him get a word in to defend his ridiculous accusations. She had thought nothing about booking a flight to New York for early that morning, hopping on a plane in Dublin at eight, arriving in Manhattan just before two and riding a cab straight downtown to where Taron was filming. She had tried to call him back again that morning but his phone was turned off and she refused to leave a voice message just as he did, wanting to see in him the flesh to tell him how she felt.

Now that she had, she briskly walked back towards thirty-fourth street, ready to hail a cab back to JFK to wait for her flight home that evening. She had enough of the drama and was keen to go back home to the safety of her four walls where she could deal with her emotions in the way that had always worked for her and was ready to throw a certain blue dinosaur along with two pieces of clothing wrapped in two strings of photos straight into the bin.

(Ok just a little note here, I know that during Christmas in Bryant Park in New York is a wonderful Christmas market, I was there last Christmas, however for the flow of the story that market is not currently on and only part of the park has been closed off for filming. It’s all just fiction at the end of the day and just works in my head for the tension and dramatic effect :) )

#Taron Egerton #Taron Egerton Fanfiction #Taron Egerton Fiction #Taron Fanfic #Reunion #Angst #Hurt #Emotional Hurt #Drama #Accusation #Disappointment #Annoyance #Mis-Trust #Tears #Robyn and Taron

8 notes · View notes

hey-hey-chan · 6 years

Text

Zombie Apocalypse!Chan Pt.2

“Highly requested pt.2 of zombie apocalypse Chan!! Sorry for the hella long wait,, I wasn’t feeling lots of inspo NOR did I have the time to write :|

Please enjoy and sorry if I’m rusty and i never edit my writing, why do yall read my shit oml

“Y/n! Can you pass me the bowl of potatoes please?” An older chef had asked me. I quickly glanced around and saw the bowl.

“Uh sure, wait, do you want me to peel them first?”

“That would be awesome, dear!” I heard in reply. I quickly took out the peeler and started raking away.

Ah, the normal hustle and bustle of the kitchen.

I hated every moment of it. I had gone through hard and arduous training to become a chef in the kitchen, but even though I was still lacking, they couldn’t turn away any type of help, even the bad kind.

I quickly peeled the potatoes, in record time and handed them to the lady, “here.” She gave a small smile in response, but had no time to give her thanks as there were hundreds of people to feed.

“I still can’t believe that you’re in here.” I heard suddenly, making me jump back out of surprise. I shook my head and gave the boy a crooked smile.

“Yedam, I told you, I like working in the kitchen.” Ha, I could almost laugh at the lie. The boy knew it too.

“Oh yeah? Since when, you’ve always hated cooking and anything relating to anything of the female stereotype. Really y/n, what are you doing?” I shoved a banana in his hand and sighed.

“I’m helping the community, maybe you should try it instead of sitting on your ass all day while playing games.” I said this as a joke of course, but the boy still pouted.

“Hey! I’m only 12!” I smiled at his whiny voice while trying to wash some vegetables.

“Yeah yeah now take your 12 year old butt and walk out of here, this is for chefs only,” I said while pulling a knife out to chop the veggies. As I thought the boy was going to leave, I instead heard a loud sigh, which made me want to sigh as well, “now what?”

“I just thought you would fight to be, uh, you know, a fighter? You love-” I saw the other women in the kitchen start to give us curious glances when the word “fighter” was mentioned. I set down my knife and crossed my arms at my brother.

“I’ve settled for this job, I don’t mind it too much anymore. I get breaks and I get served first, what a privilege.” That wasn’t a lie; I did get breaks and I did get served first, but honestly, I would be rather be working my ass off fighting and bleeding than stirring around pots. I wasn’t look down upon the female chefs, yet I knew this wasn’t where I was supposed to be.

But I had to be here if I wanted Yedam and I to stay safe, and I would do anything for my younger brother.

I heard a deep sigh once more before sneakers started to squeak, “ok fine, whatever you say. But I don’t believe you, you’re just caught in some kind of funk.” I scoffed at the boys words.

“I’m in a funk.” I asked although it sounded more like an accusation. He nodded and gave me one of his childish grins.

“Yes a-”

Suddenly, loud sirens sounded across the cafeteria, making everyone drop what was in their hands to cover their ears.

“Y/n-” I quickly grabbed Yedam and pulled him close to me. “What is that?” He whispered in my ear. I shook my head, telling him I had no idea either and that he should shut it.

Shrieks of girls in the kitchen echoed throughout the kitchen, making me cringe at the volume. If there were zombies, they would have heard this already.

Sirens, what a rookie mistake. Let’s hope the walls are soundproof. Unless they’re already in the-

“Everyone! This is Chan, your leader. Please stay calm.” As soon as I heard that son of a bitch’s voice, I stomped out of the kitchen and threw down my apron.

There stood Chan, one of the leaders of the camp. He had saved my life and let me and Yedam into the camp, yet he wouldn’t let me fight, so I obviously hated him.

“What is the situation? Are your walls soundproof-”

“Please, calm down. I will answer individual questions later since I am needed on the battlefield, but don’t worry. There is only a small group of zombies trying to enter, nothing we haven’t had before and certainly nothing we can’t handle.” The boy leaned back on one foot and smiled at the crowd, already melting their hearts.

I almost shook my head in disbelief at how easily the worried people became calm in the face of this guy. This idiot.

I stared at his facial features closer and instead of the calm and collected boy I usually saw, I saw his features scrunched and tense, like he was panicked.

“That’s bullshit. You look scared as hell, don’t lie to them. We deserve to know.” I growled next to him. His eyes turned angry, unusual to his usual self.

He took a step closer to me and my first instinct was to take one back as well, yet I couldn’t lose this battle.

“Please don’t start any rumors, Miss Y/n. I am well aware of our conditions and me and my men are doing fine.” Oh wow I’ve never wanted to rip someone’s throat out so badly.

“I know that look, it’s the look that faces death, I know it very well. But I know you won’t face it if I was there to fight, so let me-” He interrupted me by snapping and waving someone over.

“Yeah, um, someone please escort Y/n to her room, I will not have people trying to change my rules and scaring my people.” Before he finished his speech, I felt arms pull me back and I immediately pulled myself out of their grasp. “And please don’t be rough with her, I think she’s just nervous ‘cause this is her first siren.”

Nervous my ass, the only thing that makes me nervous is that I’ve left my life in the hands of these pricks who think they know everything about the outside world.

A man with tattoos lining his arms grabbed my upper arm which made me flinch, “do NOT touch me, got it?!” I yelled. As I got angrier, so did they making me, which caused a vicious cycle of fighting.

“Hey don’t hurt my sister!” Yedam yelled. I saw their arms grab for him too which suddenly zapped me into reality again. I kicked them back and puled Yedam behind me.

“Do. Not. Lay. A. Hand. On. My. Brother. Got it?” I bent low, almost as if I was ready to pounce.

One of the men scoffed, crossing his arms, “as if a woman could out fight a man.”

Right as I was about to slap that bitch across his silly face, Chan’s walkie talkie went off.

“Come out- need you.” And that’s all I heard before I heard Chan say “copy that” and stomped away.

The two men looked at me before walking away as well.

“Behave yourself, I trust yourself not to do anything stupid if you love your brother so much. It’d be a shame if you two got kicked out,” he said. The two cackled at his joke which made me want to break his next even more.

“Follow him.” I snapped my head around to my younger brother who seemed to be picking up a rebellious streak.

“What?”

“Follow him, you know you want to. This might be your big chance to show Chan and the other guys you can fight.” He spoke quietly and softly, making me unable to get mad at him.

“Yedam, I can’t-”

“You can and you will. I know we might get kicked out if you try any funny business, but I’d rather leave in fear than have you live unhappily-” I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair.

“I’m not unhappy, I’m safe here with you. That’s all I need to be happy.” I spoke truthfully, yes, I didn’t like the kitchen, but Yedam was happy here, so than I was happy as well.

Suddenly I see Chan entering the cafeteria again, making me confused.

“Secure the doors please.” His voice boomed. I heard doors clicking the women’s cries being heard. Something was seriously going on.

As Chan was about to walk away, I grabbed his arm, something I would never do.

“Hey! You need more men.” He stopped in his tracks, stared at his arm. I awkwardly released it. “Sorry, but you need help. I see it. Your men aren’t as good as you, I know, I’ve seen them. Let me help.” Chan stared at me for a moment and shook his head.

“You don’t get it do you, you can’t-” I laughed hysterically and took a step closer to him.

“No, Chan. You don’t get it. You would rather let a bunch of people here get hurt because you have to much of your man ego to let a girl fight. But look around you Chan, you don’t have the privilege of people who would sacrifice their life to say shit like that.” I spat. We were dangerously close as I could feel his anxiety and anger rolling off of him in waves.

Before he could respond, I heard loud thumping noises, as if bodies were falling against the walls. I met eyes with Chan, both of ours wide and bug eyed.

“Shit!” He yelled. A saw a group of zombies break through the barriers.

“Around 30 zombies, highly skilled and trained, probably ex-military! All men here now!”

I saw a zombie head towards me and Chan grab it and slice his head off. I scoffed, like I needed the protection.

“Yedam, go hide behind the counters, NOW! Yell if you are in danger.” The boy followed my instructions well and scurried out of sight.

I felt the world slow down as a zombie ran full force at me, he was a big one and I could see the anger in his eyes.

“Y/N!” I heard being yelled, oh well, I guess I was unconsciously walking towards it. “STOP! You don’t even have a wea-”

The zombie came an inch between me and I grabbed it’s throat and crushed it with my bare hands. I couldn’t fight the smile that popped onto my face.

“WHAT THE FUCK? DID THAT GIRL JUST KILL THAT THING WITH HER BARE ASS HANDS!?”

I smirked at the screams of the other fighters and even felt my heart swell with pride as Chan gaped at me.

I kicked started into fight mode as more came running at me, I must’ve killed their leader. I let out a howl as they ran at me, feeling the adrenaline fill me like a drug.

“Here.” I felt a dagger being shoved into my hand. Chan gave me a small nod and I nodded back.

I then swung my feet to hit the head of a zombie, bringing them down to I could cut their head off. Another pounced at me as I was sitting on top of another and I cut their head off midair.

One after the other kept running at me, my pride swelled when I was covered in blood and sweat. I kicked the last one down with my full might and saw it’s head break as I stumped into it.

“You’re just a little boy, can’t fight a strong woman like me, boo hoo.” I looked to my right and saw 4 zombies flanking Chan.

“Yes, killing the leader, just like you killed ours, how... fitting!” I spent no time listening to their stupid drama and pulled the knife away from Chan’s neck, no hesitation at all which made her gasp. I kicked her down and trusted Chan to take the back of me.

“You bit-” She never got to finish this words before her head went limp against the ground. I turned to my right and finish the other that was standing in shock at the loss of a friend.

“Thanks.” I heard a strangled voice say. I chuckled and shrugged.

“Well, next time maybe you would want me to fight sooner, so you don’t go through so many near death experiences.” I joked, setting my knives down. Oh fighting always put me in a better mood. Yedam was right, I was never truly happy just doing nothing here.

“Hey I’m sorry, ok? I don’t know what I was being such an asshole to you. I think if any other girl asked, I would’ve let them on the team.” At these words, I swiveled around and crossed my arms.

“Wow, why so cruel to me?” I wondered. I saw the boy shrug and wipe his knives off with a towel.

“Hm, it’s kind of embarrassing,” he muttered while rubbing the back of his neck. Oh well, now I was curious.

“Oh do tell.” I smirked.

The boy shrugged, a blush forming on his face, “honestly, I think I was intimidated by you. You were so much like a leader it was scary, I think I thought that if you joined the fighters, you would overpower me.” I stood in silence for a moment, letting his words soak into me. Then I smiled, teeth and all.

“Well, you aren’t wrong.” I smirked and left him standing there in confusion, but I turned around once more to say, “but hey, now that you let me fight, there’s no going back. I guess you’re going to have to get used to me taking charge.” I winked at him and saw his dimples pop back on his face. “Well, I guess-”

“Oh wait, before you go, I just wanted to say thank you for saving my life, I really was in a... pickle over there.” I held in a chuckle at his word choice and shook my head.

“No problem, you saved mine too, I guess we’re even. Meaning, you have no more leverage over me.” I wiggled my eyebrows and turned away from him, but I didn’t go far before he called my name.

“Oh wait y/n,” I turned to face the boy. He dug his hands into his pockets and gave me a boyish grin. “See you are practice tomorrow?” I felt my cheekbones stand high and proud as I let out a chuckle.

“For sure.”

#stray kids #straykidznet #sk-writersnet #stray kids scenarios #stray kids imagines #stray kids scenario #stray kids imagine #bang chan #chan #stray kids chan #sk scenarios #sk imagines #skiz scenarios #skz scenarios #skz #skiz #sk #bang chan scenarios #bang chan imagines

242 notes · View notes

aurmgoldau · 7 years

Text

Halloween 2017 - The Haunted House

“You … never go to a haunted house attraction?”

Facing that kind of reaction always made Mei feeling guilty. And mortified, even though this time it wasn’t only her who never went to a haunted house attraction.

“Well …” Mei looked away, requesting assistance from Anya. Unfortunately the leader had entered her “power saving mode” and was half asleep on the bed above Mei’s. “Yes …”

“Don’t make it sound like a big deal!” Rhodo put up his best defense. “It’s just creepy decoration and people with costume, right? Nothing to be afraid of!”

Ulm stared at his other two teammates with amusement and confusion. It was a rarity to see him put such expression.

“But … Miss Schnee, I heard the Grandios Karneval in Atlas has the biggest haunted house venue in Remnant …”

“So I heard … But I only attended the Karneval once.” It was a lie, Mei attended it almost regularly because SDC received an exclusive invitation from the event organizer every year. “When I was … nine, I think?”

“Oh, I see …” Ulm mumbled something that sounded like “qué pena”.

“I don’t think I miss anything by not going to a silly haunted house.” Rhodo shrugged. “Schnee is probably afraid, though.”

“I am not!”

“You’ve been avoidant in the whole talk.”

Mei crossed her arms. “It doesn’t prove anything. I never go to a haunted house attraction or such because it’s for kids!”

“It’s an art!” Ulm interrupted in horror, looked as if someone insulted a god-like figure that would throw curse at them. “A haunted house is a form of art!”

This time, Mei could agree with Rhodo about how strange Ulm’s definition of “art” was.

“Well, we have a day off tomorrow. I suggest we go there to have a look at this haunted house attraction,” Mei said.

“Awesome.” Rhodo grinned. “I’m gonna enjoy seeing Schnee freaked out in the haunted house.”

“The same applied to you too, Sir Rhodo Manthus.” Mei couldn’t help not using her sarcastic tone.

“Anya, hey, you’re coming too, right?”

Anya replied with an “OK” hand sign without turned over on her bed.

“Wait! Waaaaiitt! I know you! Wait a minute, gal!”

Mei, Rhodo, followed by Ulm, passed the bazaar gate without any problem, but then the gate guard saw Anya and stopped her.

Anya sighed. “Go on ahead, guys. I’ll catch up with you.”

“What’s wrong …?” Ulm asked.

“Nothing big.”

“‘Nothing big’?” The guard repeated Anya’s words, raising his voice in disbelief. “After what you had done, it’s ‘nothing big’???”

“Ulm, go.” Anya frowned. “Don’t let those two lost, okay?”

“O-okay …”

Ulm deliberately pushed Mei and Rhodo away, despite of their protest.

“We can’t leave her like that!”

“Yes! We have to go back! What if she’s in trouble?”

“S-she told us to go ahead,” Ulm stuttered. “I-I think she’s going to be fine! Y-yeah!” She’s going to be okay!”

“Aren’t you curious with what happened until they stop her like that?”

Mei caught a glimpse of uncertainty on Ulm’s eyes. He looked back to their leader who was still at the entrance gate, arguing with the guard.

“Is she gonna be okay?” Rhodo asked.

“I start to think she did something big around here to make him upset like that …,” Mei added. The guard’s face had turned red like a beet.

Rhodo and Ulm nodded in sync. “Yeah.”

The guard finally let Anya go. The pink-haired girl acted as if there was nothing happened.

“Why did he stop you?” Mei asked, walking side by side with Anya.

“Like I said, nothing big.”

Mei raised her eyebrows.

“A little accident happened in the past.” Anya nodded at the attendant in the shooting range game booth. “You probably like that game, Rho. Chester put extra weight at the base of the best prize, so don’t be too greedy there.”

“Don’t change the subject!” Mei scowled.

“Why nobody let this one thing go …?”

“Anya!”

“I accidentally burned down the liquor seller tent.”

Mei, Rhodo, and Ulm stopped walking. Nobody said anything for a solid three seconds.

“Y-you WHAT?!”

“Anya, there’s a huge difference between staying cool and being ignorant!”

“I paid the damage, guys. It’s all settled now. And it was, like, 4 or 5 years ago. They shouldn’t make a fuss about it anymore.”

“That’s not--” Mei pinched the bridge of her nose, suddenly felt really tired.

Rhodo let out an amused laughter after being silent a while. “You should be at Shade Academy, you know? Where everyone loves chaos and explosion! It suits you.”

“It wasn’t intended, come on …” Anya cringed. “It was an accident.”

“Kindly tell us how did it happen in the first place, please,” Mei asked the biggest question in her mind.

“You know the fire-breather?”

Mei nodded.

“I saw those performers back then,” Anya continued. “I thought it’s a convenient trick, to be able to blow fire like them.”

Mei kinda felt the need to look the definition of “convenient” in the dictionary. What was convenient from learning fire breathing skill? Anya wasn’t even close to become a performer like the fire-breather she spoke of.

“They use a special mixture for that, just for your information. I go for the cheaper, easier alternative: alcohol.” Anya smirked. “If you know where to look, you can always find half full bottle of liquor around here at event like this. I found some behind the liquor tent. Some sailors left them behind, I guess.”

“And you didn’t bring it away before tried the trick?”

“Exactly my mistake. And I didn’t consider the wind too.”

Mei pinched her nose again. With this new finding about Anya and fire, Mei was sure their leader had to be banned from playing with fire. She already wounded herself in a faulty weapon when she was a kid and now Mei knew the collateral damage Anya could cause with fire.

“They took my weapon for safety.” Anya scowled. “They better take care of it or someone’s gonna hurt.”

“That’s one serious threat, y’know?” Rhodo raised his eyebrows.

“Don’t you have enough trouble with these people already?” Mei sighed.

“It’s a serious thing when it comes to weapon,” Anya replied. “You said it yourself, weapon describe its bearer.”

Mei remembered that one. She was one of those people who viewed weapon as some sort of identity of its holder, part of their personality.

“Well, here it is. The infamous Haunted House.”

The Haunted House was a semi-permanent building, bigger than a shack, but not really close to be called a building. Mei couldn’t make what was inside. It was dark and seemed to be designed like a labyrinth.

“Beacon students?” The doorkeeper stopped them at the entrance and asked. “Sorry, kiddo, but I will need to hold your weapon before you can enter.”

Ulm didn’t ask anything and give his crossbow after ensuring its safety lock was secured. Mei and Rhodo were more reluctant.

“Why do you have to keep them?” Mei reached Alpenaster, but delaying to give it to the doorkeeper.

“Both you, students, and Hunters don’t seem to take surprise lightly. Yeah, I know it’s your job to stay alert all the time, but it ruins the fun of being scared and restless.”

Personally, Mei didn’t think “being scared” and “restless” as some sort of entertainment.

“Okay, you’re good to go.” The doorkeeper opened the entrance for them after he store Mei and Rhodo’s weapons. “No branching in there, so just keep walking on the track. No backtracking, okay? Keep moving until you find the exit.”

It was dark and cold inside. There were only few source of lights, all of them were dim, and were located in odd places sparsely, creating shadows. The sound from the crowd outside was somehow muted in here.

“They’re not gonna make me pay if I break something due to this bad lighting, are they?” Rhodo, who usually spoke loud, whispered.

“From what I see, they made it quite sturdy,” Ulm replied. It was almost impossible to miss the joy and enthusiasm in his voice. “Wise choice. Since a lot visitors react by fight instead of flight.”

“Meaning we shouldn’t punch any ghost or monster pouncing on us?” Anya added.

“I think there won’t be--”

A muffled scream echoed from the other side of the place.

“Uh ….” Rhodo rubbed the back of his neck. “Let’s go ….? It’s getting cold here.”

The wooden path they had to follow made a creaking noise in some spots. So far, nothing scary appeared--

“Mei,” Anya nudged her partner, “I know you’re afraid, but don’t grab my arm so tight.”

“I’m not afraid!” Mei scowled. She released Anya’s arm, but then clung on her jacket. “I just don’t want to get separated here!”

Rhodo laughed, turned around, and walked backward. “We’re not even halfway and you already scared, huh?”

“I told you I’m not afraid.”

Mei noticed the room was different from the previous one. It was brighter with proper lamps hung on the wall and ….

“What’s this smell?” Rhodo sniffed the air. “Something’s burned? But it’s kind of smelling good.”

“Aromatherapy?”

“No, no, it’s myrrh,” Ulm said. “It’s made of resin and usually used in praying ritual in some part of Mistral.”

“What kind of ritual?” Mei asked, curious.

“Daily prayer or in ceremony to send spirits of the death crossing world.”

“I’m not from Mistral, but I don’t think they draw circle on the floor in the ceremony.” Anya nodded at Rhodo’s feet. “Like that?”

Rhodo shuffled away from the drawing on the floor. The big circle and the intricate symbols inside of it was drawn in messy lines. It looked like it was painted using ….

“Oh, yes.” Ulm looked enthusiastic. He kneeled and took a closer look on the symbol. “Is this the Old Gods’ Seal?”

“The what--?”

“The Underworld God, Arkheus. This is used to revive the dead. The seal has to be drawn using a mix of goat blood and bird bones powder.”

Rhodo’s yelp cut Ulm’s explanation. He jumped and a big wooden box fell next to him.

“Not me!” Rhodo raised both hands. “It suddenly slide and--”

The box’s lid was moving. Slowly. Really slow.

And then it suddenly stopped.

“Ha … haha ….” Rhodo forced a laugh. “There’s someone inside that thing, I know that. Ha ….”

As if someone ripped it with a brute force, the lid suddenly opened. Rhodo leapt back, tripped on his own foot, and fell down.

“Is that--” Rhodo’s eyes widened in fear. A bony hand, with gray, rotten skin, awkwardly reached out from the box--it was a coffin, apparently. The body inside raised inch by inch.

Before anything inside the coffin fully made its appearance, Rhodo had ran away first. No longer care about showing up that she wasn’t scared, Mei followed him.

“Blockhead!” Mei cried. “You dunce! Don’t leave us alone!”

“IT’S AN UNDEAD!” Rhodo screamed. He had stopped running and now lean on the wall, pale and freaked out. “THE WORST OF ANYTHING IN REMNANT!”

“But--you couldn’t run like that!” Mei trembled. “Where’s Anya and Ulm?”

“We got separated?”

“But there’s only one path … right?”

Both Mei and Rhodo looked behind. The hall was dim and previously, there was a sharp turn.

“Should we get back?” Rhodo whispered. “I mean … what if we’re the one who take the wrong turn?”

Mei didn’t want to say anything. Her voice would surely cracked if she opened her mouth. She just nodded and followed Rhodo who went back to the path they came from.

“Nothing’s gonna scare me out this time,” Rhodo mumbled to himself. “Nothing …. Not a thing. Not a single thing …. I swear.”

“Boo.”

Startled by Rhodo’s scream, Mei almost ran again, but her legs felt like weak and all she could do was backing down to the nearest wall to keep herself stood up.

“Geez, Rho.” Anya chuckled. She moved to the space with less shadow, showing herself. “Your scream is way more surprising than that corpse in the coffin.”

“That--” Rhodo, pale and couldn’t seem to choose whether to be surprised or furious because Anya made fun of him, glared at the team leader. “Goddamnit--”

“Come on.” Anya held Rhodo and Mei’s hand, herding them back to walking. “I’m really enjoying it.”

“You’re enjoying seeing us scared to death!” Mei punched Anya’s shoulder. “Not funny, Anya!”

“Ouch! Okay, okay! No more prank. Sorry.”

Anya whistled a tune while walking. She looked amused and enjoying this trip. Seeing this, both Mei and Rhodo agreed not to trust Anya’s words. Their leader should not be trusted when she was in her playful mood.

They arrived in a room that was set up like an abandoned living room. The floor and the wall was dirty. About a dozen of old photographs were hung on the wall, each of them showed a man, a woman, or a few children; possibly a family. An armchair and a sofa sat in the middle of the room, looking like something had pushed it from its previous position. There was also a low wooden table with faded paint.

One thing attracted Mei’s attention was a mirror hanging on the wall, right across the wall with photographs. Mei grabbed Anya to make sure she wouldn’t try anything funny and dragged her to come over to the mirror.

“Huh?” Anya tilted her head. “Nothing in the mirror?”

“It’s … dusty?” Mei touched the mirror surface. Apparently, it wasn’t dust. It was vapor.

Instinctively, Mei wiped the mirror.

Instead of showing Mei and Anya’s reflection, there was only one figure in the mirror. Mei immediately stopped and attempted to back away. Anya refused to follow her and continue to wipe the mirror, revealing a close up appearance of a man.

It was a picture, but there was something uncanny about it. Mei couldn’t really grasp what was it ….

Just now, Mei was sure the man in the picture blinked his eyes.

“Nothing’s interesting here,” Rhodo called. “Let’s move to the next--”

The wall with the photographs looked like it was twisted from inside. Hands and human faces formed on its surface, looked like a creature was attempting to escape from the wall. Rhodo, who stood with the wall behind his back, didn’t see any of them.

“Rho?” Anya moved her hand, signaling Rhodo to turn around.

“What? You’re not going to trick me for the second time!”

Mei whimpered, disturbed by this scene.

“Rho. Behind you.”

Rhodo--finally--turned around.

If only Mei wasn’t scared like now, she would find Rhodo’s reaction funny. Rhodo moved away from the wall, bumping into the sofa really hard. He vaulted over it and tried to hide behind the sofa.

“Rho,” Anya tugged the blonde boy’s belt, “come on, let’s leave this room.”

“They’re not going to get us?”

“Even if they’re going to get us, the right thing to do is to move to the next room.”

Mei didn’t understand--not the slightest bit--how in Remnant people find this attraction entertaining and fun? What was the fun of being constantly in fear? Mei just wanted to leave this place as quickly as possible. Why there seemed to be no end of this dark hall and creepy rooms?

After once again walked through shadowy labyrinth (more than once, Mei thought she caught a glimpse of white figure dashed near them, but she didn’t find anything), they arrived in a room with strange blue light.

“When will this end …?” Rhodo groaned. “What will it be this time …? Huh? What’s this?”

Being the tallest among them, Rhodo touched something hanging from the ceiling. It was white and looked like a net ….

“Oh?” Rhodo lets out a nervous, but relieved laugh. “Rope. It’s woven so it looks like a spider web.”

Mei exhaled. Finding that the decoration were made of entirely normal material was somehow relieving. There should be a trick for everything they’ve gone through, even though it did look so real it was scary. There would be no problem with this--

Behind her back, Mei heard a choked gasp.

Anya, noone realized when did she move, was leaning in the corner of the furthest wall she could reach without leaving her teammates out of the sight. She breathed faster than normal and didn’t seem to notice it.

“Anya?”

“Y-yeah?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Just ….” Anya deliberately avoided meeting eyes with either Mei or Rhodo. “I just think that … we probably took a wrong turn. S-somewhere. I mean, the lighting here is a bit off, right …?”

“The path isn’t branched.” Rhodo scratched his head. “Right, Schnee.”

Mei nodded.

“Are you--sure? I mean, with all those dark hall, we might miss something. Right--?”

Then Mei remembered one crucial thing. She pulled Rhodo so he lowered down and Mei could whisper that one word on his ear:

“Spider.”

Anya had a severe arachnophobia. Any hint of spider would trigger her. From what Mei observed all this time, the initial phase was like what was currently happening--Anya was scared to death, but in order to maintain her usual calm image, she ended up making up excuses to avoid the place with the possibility of spider inside. The next phase … had been successfully avoided up until now. Mei, Rhodo, and Ulm had once seen Anya was no longer paralyzed with fear and, instead, muttering a threat to blow up or burn down the entire place where the spider was.

“There’s probably an … alternate route …?”

“Schnee,” Rhodo whispered, “I don’t think I can calm her down …. Can you?”

“I’ll try ….”

When Mei got close to her partner, Anya was hissing something that sound like a prayer from between her teeth. Mei didn’t understand any word.

“Anya?” Mei carefully touched Anya’s wrist. It was cold. “You heard the doorkeeper, remember? He told us to follow the path and that it isn’t branched.”

Anya closed her eyes and bit her lips. She looked tortured by a battle inside of her head. A moment passed and she nodded reluctantly.

“So, yes, we’re on the right track,” Mei continued.

“I don’t want to go there.” Anya mumbled more foreign words again.

“Well, I want to leave this place too ….” Mei frowned. “What if we walk through this one with your eyes closed? So you don’t need to see what’s in there?”

“That doesn’t make them go away.”

“I know.” Mei was disappointed with herself for suggesting such a childish trick. “But you don’t need to see them, if there were one or two.”

Anya didn’t answer. She glared at the next room and its fake spiderweb.

“We can try it, can’t we?” Mei said.

“Do I have another choice?” Anya replied, sounded so helpless.

“Unfortunately, not at the moment.”

“I think I’m going to throw up.”

“We’ll make it quick, okay?”

Anya reached to her back, trying to grab her flintlock. It wasn’t there, since the gatekeeper had insisted to keep her weapon during the visit.

“Do I have another choice …?” Anya repeated, but this time her voice sounded like a squeak.

“Unfortunately, not at the moment.” Mei put her palm over Anya’s eyes. She already had cold sweat on her forehead. “We’ll make it quick, okay? Now, close your eyes.”

This last room didn’t scare Mei or Rhodo like the two previous ones. It was either the burden of responsibility or they simply thought this one as went through a Grimm nest, neither Mei nor Rhodo reacted by screaming or jumping back when a giant spider unfold its legs in the corner of the room.

(Mei wouldn’t dare to imagine how Anya would respond to the giant spider’s appearance.)

When they finally exited the attraction, the first thing Anya did was sitting down and dealing with her worsened hyperventilation. (She didn’t throw up like she said previously.)

Ulm appeared not too long after that. He saw Anya and his content expression turned into concern.

“What happened?”

“Spider,” Mei and Rhodo said in sync.

“Huh?”

“I’m gonna admit this is quite scary,” Rhodo said. “Just, goddamnit, don’t ask me to come along with you again, Ulm. This will be the first and last one, you hear me?”

Mei nodded in agreement.

“Well … okay.” Ulm still looked confused, but then his expression turn brighter. “Anyway! Did you see the detail in the ceremony room? The faces carved on the wall behind the throne looks like they’re alive. It doesn’t move, but it feels alive, you know?”

Throne?

“And the room with so many cages. The blood pool looks real. I expected this would be a series of trick room, but seeing it decorated like a theme exhibition based on the Old Gods religious practice is amazing.”

“Wait--”

“Blood pool?” Mei and Rhodo repeated, in sync.

“Yes. One of the Old Gods, Youma, is said to drink so many blood and eat a hundred crows, you need to make a pool for the sacrificial ritual. The blood is from chicken, so, yeah, it’s quite expensive to hold one--”

“Ulm.” Rather than upset, Rhodo sounded confused. “Don’t make fun of us. We didn’t see whatever rooms you mentioned.”

“We went through the haunted living room and the storeroom with a giant spider after the first room with coffin and undead,” Mei explained. “What’s with the ceremony room with a throne and the blood pool?”

“I didn’t find anything like a living room or a storeroom ….”

The three of them fell silent.

“You’re not making fun of us, right?” Rhodo squinted his eyes, staring at Ulm.

“I won’t do such a thing!” Ulm retorted.

“Why we visited different rooms then?” Mei asked. “Uh … Ulm? Did you walk in front of us or behind us? I … don’t remember seeing you around.”

“Oh? I was behind you. I take longer time seeing the room.”

Anya approached them, still pale, but overall looked better.

“I’m really amazed now that you were totally calm in there, Ulm.” Anya chuckled. “It’s funny, when I think about it again, that Mei and Rhodo freaked out like that and nothing seemed to affect you.”

“Miss Schnee and Rhodo … freaked out?”