Chapter Thirteen: Survival Of the Fittest Guest opened his eyes and looked around. The sky was dark, and there were huge walls of brown stone. The stone created a slope that led around a corner, and Guest could see what looked like a house around the corner. Turning around, he saw multiple stone walls standing straight up, with sharp angles. Some had openings to look through; others didn't. There was also a purple river, where Taph, Elliot, and Chance stood. Guest jogged over to the riverbank. “Hey, guys! Are you all right!” Chance held a thumbs-up. “We're good, bro. But where are we?” Guest looked to his left and saw a mound of stone that could be used to get across the river, and it led to a clearing with a few trees. He walked across the stones and looked around. Ahead of him was a small bridge that led across a different part of the river. To his left was yet another bridge. But this one led to a large stone slope, and at the top was a huge manor. Looking to his right, Guest saw a large pillar with a set of stairs going up the side with a well at the top. “Taph! Elliot! Over here!” The trio turned to Guest's voice and walked over. They had been on the opposite side of the riverbank when Guest first saw them, so they could just walk across the bank until they reached him. “Look, if we go up there, maybe we could find an exit! Or see the others.” Guest said, pointing at the pillar. Elliot nodded. “Sounds like a good idea,” He said, making his way up the stairs as the other followed. They reached the top and started looking around. “All I see is stone walls and purple rivers.” Chance said, plopping onto the ground. “Don't be like that, we gotta keep-” A bloodcurdling scream interrupted Guest before he could finish. Guest looked in the direction the screams came from and saw Noob running, full sprint, covered in blood. “Noob! Up here!” Guest cried out. Noob ran up the stairs and collapsed, panting, shaking off blood. “Noob? What happened?” Noob was shaking and crying. “Builderman… Shedletsky… they're DEAD! And Dusekkar is injured, but I think Veeronica is with him…” Noob leaned over the edge of the tower and threw up. “They're dead? What happened?” Before Noob could finish, Taph suddenly poked Guest and pointed at the area Noob had run from. Veeronica was supporting Dusekkar, and they were trying their best to run away. As if they were running from something. Dusekkar collapsed on the ground and said something to Veeronica. Veeronica shook her head, but Dusekkar shooed her away. Veeronica slowly backed away, saw something behind Dusekkar, and ran. Looking around, she saw the group on top of the pillar and ran to join them. “Vee, are you okay?” Noob asked. “Yeah, I'm fine.” But Guest wasn't paying attention to Noob and Veeronica. He was looking at Dusekkar. He was lying on his back on the ground, holding his casting staff out like a weapon. Everyone followed Guests eyes except Noob and Veeronica. Then, a figure appeared in front of Dusekkar. He had a hockey-like mask that covered his face, a book stabbed into his shoulder, and was holding a machete with a chainsaw on his back. His machete was soaked red, and his outfit was splattered with blood. He slowly approached Dusekkar on the ground. Then, in a quick, sudden movement, his machete pierced into Dusekkar's skull, and the figure kicked Dusekkar's dead body away, before slowly lifting his gaze to the group up on the pillar. Two Time hid behind a corner. He had been following this figure for minutes without being noticed. He had seen his ruthlessness. As the figures gaze lifted to the group on the pillar, Two Time knew he had to distract this killer somehow. Grabbing his dagger from his holder, he quietly crept up behind the murderer, before lunging forward and stabbing it in the back. It buckled in pain as Two Time ran past it and up the stairs, up to his teammates. Chance whooped. “Nice stab, Two Time!” He said. But his light mood quickly faded as the killer straightened up and glared at the group, before running to them. “I have an idea!” Guest said. As the killer ran up the stairs, Guest charged at him and threw his whole body weight against him. The killer was tossed down a few steps and paused before running back up the stairs. CONTINUED BELOW
Elliot hobbled away and hid in the large house. He heard more screams, and Elliot started to cry. He crouched down against the wall, sliding down onto the floor. This killer had no mercy. They could delay it, but only for a few seconds. As Elliot sobbed, he didn't notice the killer standing right in front of him until it was too late. 007n7 had heard the screaming and had seen blood and dead bodies. He was hiding in a corner, wondering what was happening with the others. Pulling up his C00lGUI, he sighed. The stupid thing was stuck with two options. The ability to clone himself and the ability to teleport to the farthest waypoint. 007n7 thought he heard something rustle a few feet away. He shook his head. It was just his imagination. But out of the corner of his eyes, he swore he saw a face peek around the corner. It looked like it was wearing some sort of hockey mask. 007n7 slowly crept around a corner and used his teleport. As it was loading, he looked around. He didn't see anything. Right before the teleport was complete, a figure holding a machete and a chainsaw ran out from behind the corner, slashing him with the machete twice before stabbing him with the chainsaw and kicking him away. 007n7 coughed up blood but quickly got up and started running away. His attacker was close behind. Running behind a wall, 007n7 quickly spawned in his clone, and it seemed to work, as his attacker chased the clone. Sighing with relief, 007n7 assessed his injuries, but looked away. Looking made him feel dizzy and nauseous. 007n7 leaned against the wall and took a deep breath, taking a moment to relax. Big mistake. His attacker suddenly appeared again and slashed 007n7. 007n7 ran. He was faster, but the attacker could run longer. 007n7 ran until he physically couldn't, and turned around to see the machete headed straight for him. Guest wrapped the gauze around his cuts. He had managed to get away from the carnage, but he knew his friends weren't as fortunate. He looked around, surveying his surroundings. He had no idea where the masked man was, but he knew he could strike at any moment. Guest decided to go into the large house on top of the hill. As he stepped inside, his senses were filled with the stench of blood. He saw a hand on the floor, around the corner. Turning the corner, Elliot's dead body was sitting on the floor, fresh blood pooling around him. Guest stifled a wretch. Looking at a table, he saw a Bloxy Cola. Guests throat was stinging from running, so he picked it up. As he reached for it, he saw a note on it. Reading it, it said ‘will give you Speed II to 15 seconds’. Having extra speed would be nice. Guest put it in his pocket to save for when he would need it. Just then, a clicking sound, like a clock, sounded from above his head. Guest looked up and saw another timer. This one read, ‘Round ends in 00:25’ Maybe if Guest survived until the timer ended, he would be free? But as he looked, the timer changed to ‘Last Man Standing: one minute and thirteen seconds’, and Guest could see the figure of the murderer highlighted red, a good bit away. Guest looked at his own body and saw that he was highlighted yellow. And, as the highlights faded out, Guest saw the killer running toward his location. Grabbing the Cola out of his pocket, Guest waited until he saw the killer walk into the house to drink it. He guzzled it down as quickly as possible, then ran out the back entrance. Guest could feel his speed as he ran down the slope and across the mini bridge, running up the stairs to the top of the pillar. Guest watched the masked man come out of the house, then make a motion with his arm as his eye started to glow red. Then he looked right at Guest. Guest looked above his head. Fifteen more seconds. And the killer was right on his heels. Guest was injured. Badly. He knew he couldn't outrun it. But he kept trying. His parents' voice rang through his head. Be strong. Always be strong. Ten. Guest ran. Nine. He started to slow. Eight. He knew he couldn't keep going. Seven. He stopped. Six. He turned to see the killer going to slash him. Five. Guest blocked his attack. Four. Guest threw his arm out for a punch. Three. The punch landed. Two. The killer was stunned by his attack. One. Guests vision went dark. Guest awoke back in the cabin with everyone looking at him. Guest sat up quickly. “What? Elliot… I saw your dead body! You too, Dusekkar… what's happening?” Chance shrugged. ‘When we died, we woke up back in the cabin. The TV was on, and we could ‘spectate’ the people who were still alive. Nice block by the way, Guest!” Guest nodded. “Thanks. So… what the hell was that all even about?” “Who knows?” Builderman answered. ‘Guys… there's another timer…” Elliot said, pointing up. “Again? Let's hope it's different this time.” And their visions went black.
