User blog:Jallybwan/Truth or Dare - Chapter 1

 Chapter 1 

 The studio was silent, the occupants trying to comprehend the Anon’s words.

 “N-no…”

 All heads turned to the voice in the corner, where Chengsha was shaking. “W-We won’t do it! You can’t make us!”

 The Anon chuckled and raised his hand. Cheng rose into the air, choking and clutching at her throat. Felicia snarled and rushed the grey figure, trying to find a way to make it stop. It simply tutted and vanished, dropping Cheng down to the ground. She coughed violently, trying to restore air to her lungs. Spicy and Jally were crouched by her side, helping her up.

 The Anon reappeared in a different location. “Are we ready to play nice? Next time I won’t be so… lenient.”

 Everyone grudgingly nodded. The Anon smiled and faded away, becoming a voice in the back of their heads.

' It appears our first dare has arrived! Addfire, you need to accept a FIREFIGHTER ROLE! AHAHAHAHAHA! '

 Addfire visibly twitched. Firefighters? They were the bane of her existence, her hell on earth. She would rather die than accept one! But… she looked over to the battered form of Chengsha, leaning on Spicy to stay upright. Was she willing to let her die?

 She hung her head. “…Give me the role suggestion.” A piece of paper appeared in her hand. She moved solemnly over to a nearby desk, dragging her feet along the carpet. Sitting down, she grabbed the ACCEPTED stamp and held it over the paper. Everyone watched with bated breath as she moved it down at a snail’s pace.

 “Firefighter… accepted.”

 Everyone rushed over to the wall of computers on one side of the studio, booting up their copies of ToS (Town of Salem, URN). Upon logging in, they immediately noticed a new gamemode.

 “Inferno…?”

 Yami quickly started a party and invited everyone in. The role wheel spun in perfect sync across their screens, each landing on the Firefighter role. Except one. Addfire got Arsonist.

 The very first message of the day? “Addfire has left the game.”

<p class="MsoNormal"> They looked over to her seat to see her curled into a ball, sobbing. “Someone… just kill me. I don’t wanna do this shit anymore…”

<p class="MsoNormal"> Everyone had sympathetic looks on their face except Jally – who had a confused expression. “Wow… he really hates Firefighters that much?”

<p class="MsoNormal"> The wiki-goers’ gazes switched to him with incredulous looks. “Seriously? Wow dude… are you actually that dense?” asked Shadow. “Firefighters are shit, and to be perfectly honest anyone who suggests them should be banned.”

<p class="MsoNormal"> Jally held his hands up in a placating manner. “Whoa whoa, simmer down there. I’m new here.”

<p class="MsoNormal"> “A-alright. I’m ready,” came Addfire’s voice. “After what I just went through I don’t think anything else can break me more.”

<p class="MsoNormal">' Well, I like this new attitude of yours! Next dare is here! Jally, you’ve gotta kill… '

<p class="MsoNormal"> Jally’s eyes widened. He knew what was coming next, the one person he wouldn’t murder willingly…

<p class="MsoNormal">' Chengsha! Have fun with that! '

<p class="MsoNormal"> Even though they were all expecting it, gasps were hard around the room. Chengsha, still slightly shaken, just stared at Jally with fear in her eyes. She knew of his capacity for death. And she knew he knew it too. But…

<p class="MsoNormal"> There was something in his gaze that comforted her and scared her. One look and she knew he wouldn’t kill her, it was against his purpose in life. But if he wasn’t killing her…

<p class="MsoNormal"> Who would die?

<p class="MsoNormal"> “… Add, pass me Crow’s trident. The one from the first DR game,” said Jally in a broken voice. “Don’t ask what’s about to happen. I think you already know.”

<p class="MsoNormal"> Wordlessly, Addfire got up and walked over to a bladed trident displayed on the wall. She took it off and trudged back over to Jally, fully aware of what he was about to do.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Nodding his thanks, he looked at the trident in his hands. Such a simple weapon… but so effective. And perfect for what he was about to do.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Guys…” he started, not entirely sure what to say next. “…You all know what’s going to happen, yes? I can’t kill Cheng. And it’s not my fear of Felicia… not at all. Something tells me that even if I went through with the dare, Cheng wouldn’t be the only one dying.” He steeled himself, bracing the trident under one of his ribs. Chengsha started to cry, Spicy and Felicia wrapping her in their arms. “Goodbye… have a nice life, you guys.”

<p class="MsoNormal"> And with that, he exhaled and plunged the trident through his heart, quickly and efficiently committing suicide. And all to save Chengsha…

<p class="MsoNormal"> Everyone went silent, some quietly sobbing and all with tears in their eyes. Death was a strange thing. They knew he was in a better place, and yet, looking at his impaled body they couldn’t help but shed tears. They would likely never see him again, but he would live on in their memories until they too met with him in the afterlife…

<p class="MsoNormal">' Huh. Didn’t see that coming. White knight much? '

<p class="MsoNormal"> A booming chuckle echoed throughout the room, a stark contrast to the cries of the Wiki-goers.

<p class="MsoNormal">' I gotta admit, that was gutsy, pardon the pun. I respect that… You know what? I’m not done with him yet. '

<p class="MsoNormal"> Jally’s corpse rose into the air, supported by the same force that throttled Chengsha earlier. The trident fell out of him, embedding itself in the carpet. The wound in his chest closed and colour returned to his bleached face. He gasped as his lungs filled once again with oxygen.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Suddenly, he dropped to the floor, his massive bulk shaking the room a little. He got to his feet, breathing heavily, and grabbed the trident.

<p class="MsoNormal"> His first move on coming back was to rush the Anon, trying to impale his featureless face. He knew it wouldn’t work but he figured he could at least make his displeasure public.

<p class="MsoNormal">' Well, for someone who just came back to life you seem to have a death wish. Stay your hand. '

<p class="MsoNormal"> Jally, unable to resist the Anon’s power, growled and stalked off, placing the trident back on the wall – and felt someone tackle him from behind.

<p class="MsoNormal"> “DON’T EVER DO THAT AGAIN YOU IDIOT!”

<p class="MsoNormal"> He grimaced, knowing he probably deserved that. Suicide wasn’t something Chengsha particularly enjoyed watching… and that was the understatement of the century. Instead of pushing her off, he opted to return the hug, ignoring the pain of the impact. Felicia frowned at the display of affection, but allowed it just this once.

<p class="MsoNormal">' Yeah… I think that’s enough for today. If I run you ragged now who will I torment in the future? You may return to your rooms. '

<p class="MsoNormal"> “Gee, thanks. I’m sure I’ll sleep well knowing I have to go through this shit again,” cursed Jally. It was rare for him to cuss, but everyone figured he deserved this one. Haw just shook his head and walked off down the hallway. Yami glared at the Anon, surprisingly intimidating for a ghost of 2 feet tall, but eventually looked away and returned to her abode.

<p class="MsoNormal"> Eventually, everyone was in their room, Jally in the Nexus, wanting nothing but sleep. They needed their energy back – who knew how long the Anon would force them to do this…