"Well, Your Honor," Jared declared with grand authority, "if you are ever inclined to french kiss a starfish, you'll have your opportunity to examine its anus, as its head and butt are the same!"
Before the outraged Duke could respond, Jared clumsily led him into a dramatic ballroom dip. Without warning he released the bewildered Duke, letting the Duke tumble to the floor in a surprised heap. Without wasting a moment Jared rushed to Amy and David, who were already making their way towards the exit.
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“Maybe that wasn't the best exit come to think of it” Jared said
“Are you just now considering your manners you obtuse clown?” Amy said with a little bit of anger. Now she felt forced to flee with them as part of the Ballroom crowd broke off and began to follow them. First with an air of polite restraint. Quietly, slowly the crowd pursued them in their tights, shiny shoes and masks. With exaggerated politeness to keep up the ponce and circumstance of the affair they stalked their fleeing prey in slow motion. And then with a sudden rush like a damn giving way they gave up caring and just wanted their hands on the beastly intruders.
The way back to the garden was cut off. The crowd wanted blood and weren't in the mood to be disappointed. David took the lead as he wasn't about to let go of Amys hand. As they made there way deeper and deeper into the castle the sounds of the crowd would fade and then alarmingly approach them as the crowd searched frantically for them.
"We need to find a way out," David said.
"And fast," Jared added, glancing behind making sure the mob didn't over take them unaware.
Amy's mind raced with a mixture of exhilaration and fear. She clung tightly to David's hand unable to think of anything else as they pressed on.They came to an intersection of stone hallways.
"Where should we go?" Amy gasped, her voice trembling with fear. David picked the hallway on the right as it was darker then the others.
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Their footsteps echoed off the cold stone walls as they sprinted through the castle. But so too did the echos of the furious crowd.
"Damn it," Jared cursed under his breath"there going to find us eventually.” As soon as the words left his mouth he saw an ornate door peaking from the darkness.
David rushed to it and without hesitation, he flung the door open, revealing Duke Roux's lavishly appointed master bedroom.
Amy hesitated, but she was out of options. The room was a testament to the Duke's extravagant tastes, adorned with rich tapestries, antique furniture, and curiosities that hinted at darker pleasures.
"We shouldn't be here," Amy whispered anxiously, eyeing the room nervously as the sounds of their pursuers could still be heard.
“Seems to me that many an eskimo probably shouldn't enter this room either judging by the size of these female garments.” Jared said holding up what appeared to be some nasty clothes for the 1700's.
“That's not appropriate”, Amy said smothering a giggle.
“Hey I might could get on board with the Dukes tastes.” Jared offered agreeably. “Depends on the eskimo”.
And just then the closet door across the room creaked open, startling them all.
“Oh crap its one of the eskimos. If they attack we team up and everyone is kung fu fighting.” Jared barked getting into his eskimo fighting stance.
But someone a lot larger then an Eskimo came out of the darkness. It was a blast from the past. The very same NPC that had gotten them off the Titanic.
Without so much as a nod of acknowledgment to guys he walked up straight to Amy.
“You have seen enough and when the time is right you will know. But knowing is only half the challenge. It'll be up to you to do something or stand by.” He said only looking at Amy.
“Sir do I know you?” Amy said almost getting accustomed to the crazy people and events of the night.
“You will know me well enough before the night is done.” The man replied.
“How dare you … you … brute.” Amy searched for the worst she could offer.
“Really brute?” Jared said thoroughly unimpressed.
Amy shrugged defensively while trying to stare menacingly at the stranger. But he paid her no attention.
The man just got down on the ground on his stomach and began to wriggle his way behind the giant bed. David and Jared didn't bother to be bothered and just followed the mans lead.
“I don't know what kind of religion or kingdom you three are from but … “Amy began.
“Your pride and manners will be beaten out of you by the mob when they decide to check this room unless you follow us”. David bother trying to persuade her. She needed what he was selling. And so with a huff she got down on the ground and all three crawled behind the bed following the man that was saving them for the second time.
“Hey don't crawl that close to me when we are behind beds”, Jared called out to David as if it was a known breach of conduct.
They crawled awkwardly out to the corridor.
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Amy immediately regained her awareness and quickly embraced the man. He seemed to be grateful for the gesture. She then pulled to be close to her boys. Her gang. Her family. They stood there the three of them staring with wonder at the man and He back at them.
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"Thank you," Amy said breaking the moment. "We wouldn't have made it without you."
The man nodded solemnly. "It is my duty to ensure balance," he said cryptically. "But remember, the Corridor is a river of possibilities. Be cautious in when traveling it."
David stepped forward, curiosity and suspicion getting the best of him. "Why are you helping us?" he asked, his tone probing yet respectful.
The NPC hesitated, as if weighing his words carefully. "Some paths are meant to intersect," he said simply "Yours and mine have crossed for a reason."
Jared clapped the man on the shoulder and with a grin said, "Well, we appreciate the save, friend, if you ever need a hand—"
"Shh," the NPC interrupted, holding up a hand. "They are coming. Go now, never hesitate in the moment" He said and without hesitation he opened the first door that he could and walked in leaving them behind. They followed behind as fast as they could gather their wits but when they got into the world he entered he was already gone. Jared handed out pills and everyone gladly took one without wasting a word.
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They took off the headsets taking a collective sigh of relief.
Jared got up to make everyone some quick drinks.
David took a moment to silently thank his lucky stars.
"Well I hope you learned your lesson and won't be wandering off again young lady." David said scolding Amy lovingly. Jared came back in with the drinks
"Yeah and you are banned from mazes ... I thought everyone knew that" , Jared said handing out the drinks. "classic rookie mistake," He chuckled softly, shaking his head.
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Amy smiled gratefully truly feeling loved. She held her drink with both hands looking fondly at her two brutes.
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"How much do you remember" David asked with interest.
“I remember an enormous collective pain, sorrow and terror.” Amy said seriously.
“In the greatest game ever?” Jared said half sarcastically.
“Yes. I felt it. It was real. They made sure I experienced it so there would be no doubt.” Amy said with conviction.
“Ok ok I believe you but who is suffering.” Jared asked genuinely perplexed.
“Well judging by the way everything including the wind was calling out in that nightmare I think its pretty clear.” David said. Amy took a sip still holding the glass with both hands as if trying to hold on to something steady. She nodded solemnly at David's words.
“Ok I was there too but … I mean come on we are still talking about programs. Maybe they have a bug” Jared offered.
“Well they took Amy from us. So if they have a bug its a bug we have to worry about. We will have to find out. They changed everything tonight.” David said with conviction.
“Damn straight … not looking to do that one again” Amy said with a shutter.
“We'll I'm in. But one thing Amy” Jared said with uncommon seriousness for … well Jared. “That is never going to happen again.”
Amy fought back a few stubborn tears and brushed them aside.
“God I missed you. And I didn't even know you were gone.”
They got a laugh out of it but none of them were going to take the nights events lightly.
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Lance hid quickly behind tall quick bushes. He watched them enter the world after a short pause. He studied them trying to divine their thoughts and motives. Would they care? Did David, Jared, and Amy even know his name? Or did they perceive him as a background feature tucked conveniently in their adventures?
"Why should they care?" Lance mused silently, his thoughts echoing in the vast emptiness of his existence. He had guided countless players through through countless journeys bound by his duty and purpose. As they left and Lance was alone with his thoughts he longed for someone actually be interested enough to know more about him then where the exit was.
Lance wondered why he even cared if they cared. He wondered if anyone cared at all. Everything he saw daily and worse nightly painted a bleak picture.
But then he remembered that there was someone that cared. He rushed off quickly leaving the questions behind. If there was anything he cared about it was Emily. Forever trapped in a child's body imprisoned in miserable mansion that was a playground for the terror tourists. These devils masquerading as men invaded our world so they could do the things they didn't dare do in their own world. They were only able to do it in this one because they had the money. He wished like he did every night that he could give them a really exciting adventure. He longed to subject them to what they so wholeheartedly unleashed on our kind.
He made it through the shortcut passage and to Emily's hiding spot. She was asleep and so he began to watch over her. This was his nightly silent vigil. Emily's nightmares were a world unto themselves, earned by countless days and nights being subjected to the twisted imaginations of evil. Were all humans like that he wondered. Was David, Jared and Amy devils that simply couldn't afford their true desires.
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"Why do I care?" Lance wondered aloud again, his voice a whisper in the night. "Why do I continue to watch over you, night after night?"
But as Emily stirred in her sleep, her brow furrowed with the weight of unseen monsters, Lance reached out with a gentle touch. A calming gesture in the tempest of her dreams.
He whispered words of comfort that he had done every night since he discovered her.
"You are not alone, Emily," Lance murmured softly, "I am here, you are not alone."
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