I Want to Play A Game...

[Sunday June 17th, 9:45 AM

New Orleans County, Des Allemands]

[3:51:33 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He and Yuri are walking up the gravel paved road, the only one in the town. They're heading away from the Motel and towards a small restaurant, though calling it a restaurant might be a bit of a stretch as it seems more like a shack with some tables outside. It's about a hundred yards ahead of them still. Everyone else isn't quite awake yet. Odie is sleeping in as he spent a lot of the night waking up and checking to see if Brendan was ok. Lucas and Yuri only managed to get murmured groggy groans of confirmation when they asked the others if they wanted breakfast. Lucas has been a bit quiet the entire walk, not really talking much, but Yuri can tell he wants to talk about something, maybe if only to break the silence of the morning.

[3:56:02 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He keeps walking alongside his brother as he starts talking. When I woke up this morning I didn't think Brendan would still be there. He briefly glances at Lucas. Seeing him out here, it's weird. It's like seeing something out of a dream...

[3:57:29 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He pulls out a cigarette and blows distorting air on the end of it, lighting it with the heat from his breath, he puts it in his mouth afterwards. It's like that Freddy movie.

[3:57:56 PM] Arbi: Yuri: The guy with the christmas sweater and the hat?

[4:00:14 PM] Omniance: Lucas: And the claw. He looks at Yuri and holds up his hand, making it almost like a monster claw gesture, before using it to pull the cigarette from his mouth. Except Brendan is just some kid.

[4:02:43 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He goes quiet for a long moment as they continue walking down the gravel road. ...So tell me, what did you and Ricky talk about last night?

[4:04:43 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He looks at Yuri for a moment then looks away. I guess I just had some immediate worries... What we're going to do with a kid... What do you think? How are we going to take care of him? Does he need to eat? If he does what does he eat?

[4:05:49 PM | Edited 4:06:08 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He shrugs, having no idea what Brendan would want to eat. We could try asking him.

[4:09:46 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He sighs in relief and looks at Yuri, then shakes his head. I like talking to Ricky but... He doesn't have the obvious answers that I should've recognized myself. He rolls his eyes. Why the hell didn't I just think that we could ask him? He scratches his shoulder and breaths out smoke into the morning air. Feels like we haven't been talking as much like this lately... Guess that's my fault.

[4:18:27 PM | Edited 4:19:56 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He puts his hands behind his head. We've been living in the same bedroom for the past eighteen years. We're twin brothers, we've done almost everything together. He nods. Nothing wrong with changing things up a bit. He takes a deep breath and exhales.  But... I guess I'm still getting used to splitting up into teams and not being on yours.

[4:20:07 PM] Omniance: Lucas: ...I just wasn't thinking of it that way. Most of the time I just wanted you to keep an eye on Odie since we've known him for so long... I don't think Ricky would have the same... Understanding for some -Most, most of Odie's quirks...

[4:22:26 PM | Edited 4:24:15 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He looks up and sees that they're approaching the tables outside the shack. Huh... I never really looked at it that way.

[4:25:55 PM] Omniance: Lucas: Well I won't lie, I like having some time with Ricky too... He puts out his cigarette as they reach the shack. A painted sign that reads "Darrel's Burger and Crab Shack", there's a small open sign hanging in front of the counter.

[4:32:00 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He looks around for anyone at the counter to take their orders.

[4:34:31 PM | Edited 4:35:34 PM] Omniance: Cassandra: After a moment she walks out into the front, carrying a large box of something, it looks like plastic cups and plates. It's the same girl from the place they ate at in New Orleans, she smiles warmly at them. She's as beautiful as Yuri and Lucas remember. Hey.

[4:36:56 PM] Arbi: Yuri: His eyes widen a bit. He thought he'd never see Cassandra again, especially not at some small shack out in the middle of nowhere.

[4:40:58 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He raises an eyebrow at her. ...You work here?

Cassandra: Her smiles fades. Nope. She pulls a gun out of the box of plastic tableware and shoots a dart into Lucas's in the chest before he can react. She immediately turns and aims at Yuri with the dart gun. Surprise. Lucas falls to the floor as he pulls the dart out of his chest. As this happens she shoots a dart into Yuri's neck.

[4:44:58 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He tries to turn invisible but he can't move out of the way fast enough and gets hit too. He grabs the dart and pulls it out but it's too late, the world becomes blurry around him and he falls over. He looks up at Cassandra before passing out.

[4:45:19 PM] Omniance: Meanwhile...

[4:49:51 PM] Omniance: Odie: He wakes up, feeling a bit groggy still, almost like he was drinking last night. He looks at the clock, it's 11:50. ...What the hell happened to those guys. He gets out of bed and rubs his wrist. There's a small bruise on it, he looks at it for a moment before rubbing his neck and then stretching. They left like... Hours ago... Where's my breakfast? He takes a moment, looking around the room, things seem out of place. Hey Ricky... Wake up. He walks over to the other bed and starts shaking Ricky.

[4:53:10 PM | Edited 4:54:23 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He sits up after a moment but keeps his eyes closed as he raises his hand to his forehead, feeling almost hungover. My head... He stays in bed for a bit, trying to recover.

[4:55:14 PM] Omniance: Odie: He shakes Ricky a bit more as he looks around. Their bags and things are moved, like someone was looking through them. I think someone was in our room. He turns and looks at Brendan, who looks like he's been awake for a while. Did you see someone in here? ...Someone that wasn't us or the Twins?

[4:57:33 PM] Arbi: Brendan: He's sitting on the edge of the couch. He nods shyly. I... I pretended I was asleep so they didn't hurt me...

[4:58:27 PM] Omniance: Odie: He looks back to Ricky. Someone broke into our room Ricky! He turns and looks back at Brendan. What'd they look like, what'd they do?

[5:01:20 PM] Arbi: Brendan: He looks down and gently sways his legs infront of the couch. I couldn't see... their face was covered.

[5:01:51 PM] Omniance: Odie: He looks at his wrist again. I think they drugged us.

[5:03:18 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He's changing into his clothes as fast as he can. They must've been after the glasses...

[5:05:46 PM] Omniance: Odie: Yeah... He thinks for a moment. ...They're in the RV still. I left them under the driver's seat. I forgot to get them out when we left the RV there because I didn't think it would take more than an hour or something.

[5:09:01 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He looks at the clock. ...I'm gonna go look for the twins. He walks up to the window, opening the blind slightly with two fingers and looking around to see if he can see anyone outside before opening the frontdoor and walking out.

[5:11:35 PM] Omniance: As Ricky walks out there's a small black box on the ground that he kicks. It's wrapped like a present, in black wrapping paper and red ribbon.

[5:14:29 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He stops and sees the present, as he reaches down to grab it he looks around the parking lot to see if anyone's watching him. He steps back inside. This must be some type of joke...

[5:14:52 PM] Omniance: Odie: ...What? What happened? He's finishing getting dressed.

[5:15:48 PM] Arbi: Ricky: Someone left a box outside, infront of our door. It's wrapped and everything...

[5:16:06 PM] Omniance: Odie: ...Maybe it was who broke in.

[5:16:19 PM] Arbi: Ricky: Do you think we should open it?

[5:16:44 PM] Omniance: Odie: If they wanted to kill us I think they would have...

[5:17:50 PM] Arbi: Brendan: He walks past Ricky while he's talking with Odie and goes outside.

[5:19:29 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He nods. I'm opening it...

[5:20:34 PM | Edited 5:21:06 PM] Arbi: Ricky places the small present on the nightstand and begins to unwrap it slowly.

[5:23:33 PM] Omniance: Odie: He crosses his fingers. All of them.

As he opens the present he sees that it's a VHS tape. It looks like a home-made tape, used in a camcorder. The white sticker on the front just says "PLAY ME" written in nice cursive, like you'd see someone sign a letter.

[5:24:20 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He sighs when he sees the VHS and looks at Odie. I don't like this...

[5:25:10 PM] Omniance: Odie: ...Someone snuck into our room and drugged us. I don't like any of this. He looks at the small TV in their room.

[5:26:34 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He looks over and walks up to the TV, pushing the tape into the VHS player and pressing play before backing up to sit on the edge of the bed.

[5:43:22 PM] Omniance: The TV flickers a few times. A cloaked figure appears on the TV, the video quality is extremely low, and the tape is in black and white. He looks like he's wearing a mask of some kind. His voice is deep, calm, and darkly enhanced by the low-quality audio of the VHS tape. I believe the two of you are completely ignorant of the... World you've gotten yourselves into. When Veronica sent you to retrieve the Object, she likely didn't know what grand purpose it serves. Which is why she'd never have warned you just what it is that you've stumbled into. Marked or not, you are in the way of what I am trying to accomplish... The figure seems to look directly at Ricky. I have the twin brothers. The screen flickers, an image of Lucas strapped to what looks like a hospital gurney appears. The camera moves forwards to get closer to him. His mouth and nose and taped shut with medical tape, and he has a breathing tube going into his throat. He looks at the camera, his eyes wide, he struggles, but the leather straps are more than enough to hold him in place. The tape flickers again. An image of Yuri sitting in a wooden chair appears, he doesn't seem to be strapped down, but it looks like he's just waking up. The image flickers back to the cloaked figure. We're going to play a game. The objective of the game is simple. You will retrieve the glasses, and you will bring them to me. The image flickers to a map, it looks like some small town in Texas is marked on it. If you do anything other than this, the twins will die. If you contact the police, the twins will die. If you contact Veronica Sharpe, the twins will die. The VHS flickers back to the cloaked figure. If the glasses are not brought to me by sunset, the twins will die. The TV flickers off, and the VHS player ejects the tape.

[5:45:31 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He stands up slowly, his fist catching on fire as he closes it tightly.

[5:46:17 PM] Omniance: Odie: He looks at Ricky from the TV after a brief silence. We have to give him the glasses...

[5:46:57 PM | Edited 5:51:25 PM] Arbi: Ricky: Despite his anger there's defeat in his tone. ...There's nothing else we can do.

[5:51:40 PM | Edited 5:56:33 PM] Omniance: Meanwhile, over 600 miles away...

[5:58:32 PM] Omniance: Yuri is awake, but confused, he's in some barely lit room, made of brick and concrete, similar to a basement or a meat fridge, it's cold but not freezing cold. There's a single chair in the center of the room, which he woke up in about an hour ago. After a moment there's a loud screech, like when someone causes feedback on a microphone. An unsettling deep voice comes in from a small speaker directly above the only door. Hello Yuri. You don't know me, but there's a great deal that I know about you...

[6:01:47 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He looks towards the speaker to see if there's a camera there. ...Is that you, Winsor?

[6:08:52 PM | Edited 6:09:48 PM] Omniance: Yuri can see a very small camera off to the side of the door. The voice responds. Winsor... Unfortunately for you I am not some simple swamp dwelling auctioneer... I am a collector... Of many things. You see, I believe that life is made up of a series of experiences. Each one adding onto the last. Each one making life worth living. For better or worse, each adds to us as a person, as a species. Happiness is only truly appreciated if it is balanced against great sadness. Pleasure, only if you should experience great pain. The lives of you and your small group of friends have been wrought with these experiences, but in our lives, every experience only serves to help us decide if they're worth living. Do you believe in your own life Yuri? The life of your brother? ...Unfortunately for me my life is running out, as is my time, so I will offer you a deal. Tell me where the Object is, the Glasses, and I will let you free of this experience, and you and your brother may go. Refuse... And you will be forced to play my game. Yuri remembers Odie stashing the glasses in his sunglasses case and putting it under the seat while Lucas was driving.

[6:10:36 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He squints his eyes slightly at the small camera. ...What are you planning on doing with the glasses?

[6:19:52 PM] Omniance: Voice: I'm glad you asked that. You see... Each object serves its purpose. Just as each person does. He coughs a few times, away from the microphone so it sounds muffled. ...Each holds an anomalous property that it should not. A comb is used to fix your hair, but there exists a comb that allows you to stop time. A pack of cigarettes is used to smoke, not to destroy steel... And so forth... Separate these objects serve their strange purpose. Together their purpose changes. The comb and cigarette pack have the ability to all their holder to walk through solid matter as if it were air... I am in the final stages of brain cancer, but I believe that my purpose here, the experiences that I exist to perpetuate on others, must be maintained. The glasses, when used with another set of objects, reverse the effects of disease... Which is why I went to great enough lengths as to contract Mr. Totenkopf to hunt you down and dissuade you from procuring them. However I now have no other choice than to do this myself, as it appears you have killed him. So now that you know why this is happening Yuri. Make your choice. My deal, or my game.

[6:25:27 PM | Edited 6:26:01 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He remembers Amelie's warning, realizing this must the man she was talking about.

Mama Amelie: He'll try to tempt you into a deal. The man is... Cunning... You've been on a long journey and he seeks to cut it short by any means within his grasp. He means you great harm, don't trust him.

Yuri: He blinks his eyes a couple times and slowly looks up at the camera trying to look directly at the elderly man on the other end. ...No deal.

[6:29:30 PM | Edited 6:31:53 PM] Omniance: Elderly Man: He coughs a few more times. Strange that you would refuse. Though I must admit that I am intrigued by your choice, as I prefer the game, despite my quickly declining health... Perhaps this self destructive preference what I am meant for, and this is to be the last game I play. The sound of the door unlocking is heard. Proceed into the next room, and the game will begin.

[6:34:15 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He stands up and walks towards the door, cautiously entering the next room.

[6:45:23 PM] Omniance: The next room is smaller, it's a sectioned out area of a basement. In the corner is a small TV set.

Elderly Man: You and your brother are inseparable. So much so that you have done everything together for the majority of your life. Can you function without him? Can you save his life without his help? The TV flickers on. Lucas is on it, laying propped up with pillows in a hospital bed, he seems to be in pain. Yuri notices his brother's mouth and nose have been taped shut, and there's a tube in his neck just where his collar bones nearly meet that is allowing him to breath. There's also an IV bag filled with some dark liquid that's going into his arm. You brother's bark burns worse than his bite, which forced me to take extensive measures to keep him in place... Do you see the Intravenous bag handing beside his bed? It is a very unique poison. Being a Marked One you may have come into contact with this substance before. However I will stress that it is very rare, and its effects are equally as rare and unique. You have until the bag empties to navigate your way to him... Alone. A prospect I would imagine frightens you more than you admit. How strong is the bond between the two of you? How much pain are you willing to endure to keep him from leaving you... Can you suffer without him beside you so that you can live beside him when this is over? The TV turns off. You have forty-five minutes. Starting now. The TV flickers back on to display a countdown clock and the next door unlocks. His life is in your hands.

[6:55:17 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He looks worried for his brother and both fear and anger for the man doing this to them, but a memory echoes through his head that brings a small smile to his face.

Lucas: ...Just keep in mind that all the hot girls we meet try to kill us...

Yuri: Man, even when you're not here you still find a way to keep me going... He nods to the display and looks towards the next door. Don't worry, little bro... I'm gonna get us both out of here. He continues on, determined to save Lucas.

[7:09:55 PM] Omniance: The door opens into a large room. It looks like the cement has been dug out and a deep pit has been dug into the dirt, it's full of a red liquid, possibly blood, and what looks like twisted fragments of metal. Over it is a thin steel bar that spans from the entrance to the next door, just wide enough for Yuri to balance on and cross to the door on the other side.

Elderly Man: Balance is important in life. Too much or too little of one thing can cause you to fall or lose ground to that which can ruin your life. Your seemingly simple path is before you, and your brother's salvation is to your left. There's a small shelf built into the wall. It's a small glass full of clear liquid, which looks like water, the bottom of the glass has a small mechanical device attached to it, which has a blinking green light. That liquid is the antidote to your brother's growing affliction. You will be required to carry it for the remainder of the game. The liquid is even more unique and rare than the very poison that is slowly dripping into his veins. The device attached to the bottom of it is a detonator, once you lift the glass from its place it will be armed. Should the device leave your skin at any time it will explode. Destroying the liquid it holds, likely crippling you for the remainder of your life, and dooming your brother to a fate worse than death. Can you balance the fate of yourself and the fate of your brother amidst turmoil without losing everything in the process? You have Forty-three minutes.

[7:18:38 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He walks up to the shelf, knowing that he doesn't have time to spare he reaches forward and grabs the glass container by the bottom, keeping his hand wrapped around device before he steps back infront of the pit full of red liquid. Slow and steady... He relaxes himself before taking his first step onto the steel beam and begins to slowly walk across it.

[7:25:24 PM] Omniance: Elderly Man: Sometimes our lives are not what we expect them to become. I feel that your life, before the acquisition of your demonic power, served no purpose. You expected little, meandering from one day to the next. Attending school. Once your powers had manifest themselves however, the demon inside of you forced you into maintaining balance. It would seem you were capable of maintaining this balance thus far, but for how long do you think you can last against the inevitable? We only live to die, after all. It is the pain and experiences of our life that matter, not its duration.

[7:44:42 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He stops in the middle of the steel beam and begins to lose his balance Just then another memory ehcoes throughout his head.

Beliruy: You failed again, Yuri.

Yuri: He stops and groans out in pain, grabbing his chest. What the...fuck. He closes his eyes tightly in pain. As he closes his eyes he's suddenly standing in the strange cold room again. The man from before is standing in front of him.

The memory quickly changes to all the times Belxephon tormented him and how weak he was without his brother.

Yuri: He tries to regain his balance, not wanting to fall and lose his brother. Things have changed... I've changed... I'm not like that anymore!

All the memories of their time on this road trip flash through his head. Ever since Lucas and Ricky got together he's been away from his brother almost everyday. Even without Lucas there he's learned to overcome obstacles thrown at him, like the time Lucia attacked him and other time when Rachel tried to take him and Odie away. He realizes that even though he sometimes gets scared when his brother isn't around that he knows he's strong enough to continue on without him by his side and face life head on. He suddenly regains his balance and looks forward, making his way across the steel beam until he reaches the other side.

[7:58:53 PM] Omniance: The door unlocks and slides open. The next room is dark, and he can't see more than a few feet in, and that's only because of the light from the last room.

Elderly Voice: In life we walk forwards into the future, with only the past to light our way. The simple rigors of every day life can be more than we can handle alone, and we sometimes do not have the strength to keep moving forwards without a companion, but we must find the strength within ourselves if we are to continue living. Directly ahead of you, beyond the darkness is a locked door, the key to which is located to your right. Yuri sees an old iron key, sitting on what appears to be a stack of iron bars welded together. A heavy chain leads from the key's ring to the bars, and appears to alost be welded to them at the end. This key is chained to an eighty pound weight. If you had your brother with you, moving the key could be accomplished with little effort between you. However you are alone in the dark, and you will find no other here to aid you. Sometimes our path in life is more than we can handle alone, and to add onto our loneliness, the very world we live in threatens to fall out from under us even when we find enough strength to push forwards. You have thirty-nine minutes.

[8:02:45 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He walks up to the key and tries pulling it along with the eighty pound weight it's attached to but it's too heavy for him to move. It was worth a try... He looks around in the darkness, trying to think of how he's going to move the key and iron together.

[8:03:56 PM] Omniance: Meanwhile...

[8:07:17 PM | Edited 8:07:37 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He had no choice but to let Odie drive the RV, not wanting to get pulled over and having a cop discover he only has "one arm. He's sitting next to him with the glasses still in the case in his hands. Without warning he suddenly slams his demonic fist into the dashboard out of anger.

[8:10:05 PM] Omniance: Odie: He jumps and the RV shifts back and forth as he accidently steers it into the center of the road and then back to where its supposed to be. He looks from the road to Ricky. It's a long drive man, if you need to talk about something, let it out. He looks back to the road, gulping slightly. The number of times he and Ricky have been together without the twins have been very few. Even thought they're friends, they don't usually spend time together unless the twins are involved.

[8:15:20 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He sighs and closes his eyes. Back at the garage, Vera was stressed because we didn't know who hired the Prince. I told him not to worry, that we probably scared him off. He stopped thinking about it... because he trusted me. He opens his eyes. Now look where he is...

[8:16:28 PM] Omniance: Odie: He thinks for a moment. ...Well... Honestly I don't think it would've mattered what you said, we wouldn't have seen something like this coming...

[8:20:26 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He looks at him. What if you're wrong? If he was still worried he might of asked me to go get breakfast with him instead of Yuri. I could have protected him...

[8:23:19 PM] Omniance: Odie: Umm... I know you and Lucas are like... A thing... But him and Yuri have been brothers for eighteen years. You've only been around like... A few months... He looks at Ricky nervously and then back to the road. They killed like three demons before you even started hanging out with us.

[8:25:25 PM] Arbi: Ricky: Is that what they told you? Did Vera leave out the part where he died?

[8:26:00 PM] Omniance: Odie: ...Maybe. He suddenly looks less comfortable. He might've... Not said... Anything about that... At all.

[8:28:07 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He sighs and sits back in his seat, becoming silent.

Brendan: He's beside the small kitchen table, playfully giving Rodin pats on the head and barking like a child to try and get him to bark back. Woof!

[8:28:38 PM] Omniance: Rodin: He just licks Brendan's face.

[8:28:59 PM] Arbi: Brendan: He giggles happily and hugs him.

[8:29:56 PM] Omniance: Odie: Well umm... They succeeded, and Lucas is alive...

[8:30:45 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He doesn't respond and just looks out the window, fearing the worst.

[8:31:45 PM] Omniance: Odie: He sighs. We're halfway there, making good time... Look at it this way. He wants the glasses, if Lucas or Yuri dies, he doesn't get them... So he's not going to kill them...

[8:33:40 PM] Arbi: Ricky: Then why did they kidnap both of them?

[8:34:26 PM] Omniance: Odie: ...Umm... I don't know... Maybe because they were both there... Or... Something...

[8:35:22 PM] Arbi: Ricky: He looks away from him again and goes back to being silent.

[8:35:38 PM] Omniance: Meanwhile...

[8:38:13 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He uses all his strength with his right hand to pull the chained key but the iron still doesn't budge. He's breathing a little faster than normal, a little tired now. He looks at his other hand holding the antidote. If I didn't have to hold this thing I think I could move the key...

[8:39:54 PM] Omniance: Elderly Voice: His voice comes over the intercom. You have thirty minutes.

[8:52:03 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He stares down at the darkness surrounding as the elderly man says thirty minutes. He suddenly remembers what happened the other day.

Yuri: He removes the picture and his eyes light up when he sees what's behind it. Found it! But his smile changes to a frown when he realizes it's locked and that he's going to need a combination to open it. Shit.

Odie: He puts the rug down and quickly runs over to the safe. There's no way to get it open?

Winsor: The back door slams shut. His muffled voice can be heard from downstairs. Mae you see anyone come in through the front door?

Mae: No, Sir, I didn't.

Winsor: Where's that damn maid? He can be heard walking around downstairs.

Yuri: He looks around the room, trying to figure out a plan to get this safe open. Close the curtains. I'm going to buy us more time...

Yuri: He snaps out of his memor and smiles before he walks up towards the door and pulls out a pure black chain from the darkness. He begins pulling it across the room towards the iron bars. The chain begins to strain against his strength but he manages to hook it onto the key's chain. The chains straighten out when he lets go and he grabs the key, pulling it slowly across the room with his chain's help. He reaches the door and uses his hand to find the keyhole, quickly inserting the key and unlocking the door. He may want to possess me but... I'm never alone in the dark because of him. He smiles. Thanks, Billy. He unhooks the chain and it flies into the darkness, vanishing. He continues into the next room.

[9:04:13 PM] Omniance: The door opens up into a stairway the leads up.

Elderly Voice: Up until this point your trials have been fair. as Yuri ascends the steps and goes through the door to the next room the elderly man continues to speak.  But sometimes in order to act alone, we must act against all odds, even when the odds are against us. The next room is a simple white room with a black and white checkered floor, like a chess set. Each square is about a foot and a half in length and width. The room is much longer than the last two, almost like a hall. Even when we walk the path with certainty, our footing can give way at any moment. It is only through trial and error that we can continue onwards. It is our choices in life that help decide the fate of not only ourselves, but everyone around us. Before you is a simple room, however its floor contains unknown dangers. Each step may be your last, or may decide the fate of your brother. In addition to this unknown danger to your left and right are two buttons in the wall, to your left Black, and to your right, White. You may press one or the other, both, or neither. What you choose leads to unknown consequences. Know only that you have a choice.

[9:07:15 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He looks back and forth and between each button. If you've taught me anything old man is that you need balance in life and that you need to experience life before you can make the right changes. He starts to breathe a little faster. I'm going for it... He presses both buttons.

[9:13:12 PM | Edited 9:13:47 PM] Omniance: Elderly Voice: Metal bars slam down in the doorway behind Yuri, keeping him from escaping. In the face of everything you've been taught, sometimes the consequences can be... There's a loud grinding sound, like an engine turning on, and the hole room starts to shake. Unexpected. The entire room starts to move, slowly turning on it's side as it rotates, this causes Yuri to spill a bit of the liquid inside of the glass. When you choose all possible outcomes, the chaos that ensues may be greater than you can manage. Sometimes no choice, is better than choosing anything at all... You path is simple. Reach the end of the room. Though be warned. At least half of the liquid within that glass is required to save your brother from his fate...

[9:17:13 PM] Arbi: Yuri: You don't know me very well if you don't think I can deal with chaos... He turns invisible and starts walking across the room, stepping on each black or white tile as he makes his way towards the wall that's about to become the new floor.

[9:24:33 PM] Omniance: Elderly Man: Sometimes chaos is a result of a lack of foresight, a lack of knowledge, or a lack of proper protocol. You see... I never tested this trial. Almost on cue there's a sound of grinding, as the ceiling becomes the right wall of the room, there's a small explosion that blasts apart many of the lights and sends a gear slamming into the "floor", which is now actually the left wall, just a foot ahead of Yuri. Through the hole Yuri can see a number of large car engines winding a set of large gears that continues to move the room in a clockwise rotation, however they're visibly struggling to do so, and the room begins to vibrate and shake, making it obvious that another might go at any moment. As a result of this the remaining lights are now dimly flickering, making it more difficult to see and the "ceiling" which will soon become the floor, has a huge hole in it. ...Anything could happen. At any time. In life there are moments when nothing we do can save us from our fate. You have twenty-seven minutes.

[9:31:23 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He stays where he is, being patient and keeping Lucas's antidote close to him until the ceiling becomes the new floor. He gets down on one knee and reaches down, pulling a long chain from within the darkness before letting it fall into the gears below. The gears catch the hook of the chain and pull on it with all it's might but eventually even the engine isn't strong enough to keep reeling in the black chain and it jams. The room stops spinning. He smiles at the nearest camera and turns invisible again. He walks across the room, using his light muffled steps to walk across the darker pathway so he doesn't trigger anymore tiles and makes it to the next door.

[9:36:38 PM] Omniance: Elderly Man: Your next trial will be the most difficult... As Yuri walks through into the next room there's another flight of stairs and as he ascends them the sound of the engines dying down in the last room can be heard. The door to the next room is open, but sheets of plastic hang from the ceiling, making it difficult to see. Your brother awaits you, just ahead...

[9:39:00 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He reaches the room and starts pushing the sheets out of the way, looking for his brother.

[9:44:18 PM] Omniance: Elderly Man: Sometimes, in order to save someone, we must save ourselves, and sometimes we even have to save ourselves from them... As Yuri pulls away the last sheet he can see the hospital bed Lucas was in, but he's not in it, and the IV stand that was dripping poison into him is also gone. Something seems to move in the sheets beyond the bed.

[9:45:30 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He looks towards whatevers moving behind the sheets. ...Lucas?

[9:48:24 PM] Omniance: Elderly Man:  Whatever is behind the sheets seems to hear him and moves quickly in his direction, after a short moment the sheets behind the medical gurney are pushed to the side and Lucas walks into view, his skin is greyish and pale, and he's hunched over. Yuri notices that his brother's fingers end in black claws and his eye look bloodshot and wild. Fastened to Lucas's back with a leather harness is the IV bag, the tube still going into his arm. The medical tape that covered his brother's mouth and nose are gone, as is the tube that was in his throat. ...You would take a bullet for your brother, but what if he was the one pulling the trigger? Could you take a bullet FROM your brother? How far are you willing to go to hurt him in order to save him?

[10:00:34 PM | Edited 10:03:02 PM] Arbi: Yuri: As he stares at his grey skinned brother he remembers the situation that Lucas was faced with before a few months ago, too similar to this one.

Lucas: He narrows his eyes and leaps forwards slamming his fist into Yuri's chest. At first it doesn't seem like anything happened, but after a moment Yuri feels a massive pain tear through his chest, and in incinerating burn from a heated needle being stabbed into him.

Yuri: He holds his hands out and Lucas stops in mid-air, he feels like his body is being held up from everything inside him. He shakes his head at Lucas, knowing he could potentially break the possession. I'm not done yet, little bro... He walks past him towards Mandy.

Lucas: He watches helplessly as Yuri walks passed him, the silver cross that's normally around his neck positioned in between two fingers of his fist. Yuri! Stop! YURI WAKE UP!

Yuri: He raises his hands together in Mandy's direction and slowly spreads his arms away from each other, Isaac and Mandy slide and then stumble away from each other. I want you to suffer for what you did to my brother! He laughs wickedly as he throws Mandy further away from Isaac and he runs up to him.

Mandy Lane: She lands on the ground and rolls over a few times. Isaac...

Lucas: Yuri! Fight back! I know you can! Yuri! He struggles against the demon's restraint, despite it hurting he's pulling strength from Isaac's agony.

Yuri: The memories begins to fade and he steps forward towards Lucas and says it with his brother as he remembers it. Lucas! Fight back! I know you can! Lucas!

[10:09:11 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He blinks and seems to see for a moment. Yuri? I can't... It's inside me... He blinks again and his eyes turn blue-white. I'm hungry. He opens his mouth and his teeth turn to sharp fangs.

[10:11:10 PM] Arbi: Yuri: I'll get you some food after this is all over. I promise... I've always you kept you fed, you know that, little bro... He starts to walk towards him slowly.

[10:14:16 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He smiles solemnly, which looks weird with his sharp teeth. It quickly fades and he looks down as his skin turns paper white. His voice comes out deep and rumbling, like a demon's. I can hear your heart beating... It's really fuckin cool... He looks back up to Yuri, the sounds of Lucas's bones shifting in his body can be heard as he slowly becomes more monstrous.

[10:16:28 PM | Edited 10:16:47 PM] Arbi: Yuri: Can you hear the other man's heart beat? The one that put us both in here?... He keeps getting closer.

[10:18:43 PM] Omniance: Lucas: His blue eyes look to the side. I can hear... Him... And the girl... Who shot us... His jaw snaps and opens wider, almost like a snake. His cold blue eyes dart back to Yuri. I can see the veins... Glowing... Under your skin... They look like they taste so good...

[10:21:49 PM] Arbi: Yuri: Com'on, Lucas... You know Ricky wouldn't like it if he found out you said those things, even while turning into a demon. Let's go get those other two people here. That has to be twice the blood I have... what do you say?

[10:24:03 PM] Omniance: Lucas: The pupils in his eyes go wide.

Elderly Man: If either of you leave that room, the glass will detonate... Feel free to... Do as you wish however... I've come to the conclusion that... He coughs several times. ...My time here... Is nearly at an end.

[10:29:50 PM] Arbi: Yuri: You heard the man, Lucas. He said Ricky's time here is nearly at an end. If you don't drink this he's going to hurt him!

[10:30:26 PM] Omniance: Lucas: ...Drink? He looks sick suddenly. ...Drink...

[10:31:59 PM | Edited 10:32:04 PM] Arbi: Yuri: I tasted it before, man... It tastes just like Dr. Pepper. I'll drink it instead if you don't want it.

[10:35:18 PM] Arbi: Yuri: I think I hear Yasmine coming downstairs. She's gonna take your Dr. Pepper! Hurry!

[10:35:48 PM] Omniance: Lucas: You're lying... I can smell it. His legs crack as they extend and his feet rip out of his shoes and he props up onto his toes like an animal. Stop stalling. You will feed me. He starts stomping towards Yuri, closing the short distance between them. Yasmine isn't here. I'd hear her... Ricky isn't here. No one is here but you...

[10:40:03 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He squints his eyes at his brother. I promised you I'd keep you fed, didn't I? He takes out his pocket knife and raises it to his own arm before cutting it deep. He then grabs the device with his other hand and holds it under his arm, letting his blood spill into the antidote.

[10:46:03 PM] Omniance: Lucas: Huh? He tilts his head, looking at the glass. He charges forwards suddenly and grabs it, raising it to his lips he starts to gulp it down. After drinking it he coughs loudly and drops the glass to the floor, it shatters. ...Disgusting... He turns his head to look at Yuri and then leaps forwards, pouncing his brother to the ground. His mouth goes for the wound in Yuri's arm, but he suddenly stops like he's paralyzed. His whole body pulses black and then red, and all of his veins well up under his skin like they're going to burst. His voice comes out normal, with a tone of sudden worry. ...Yuri? He suddenly screams in agony and rolls off of his brother as he starts shaking violently. IT HURTS! He breaths out a cone of flames into the ceiling as he struggles. His bones start popping back into place, shortening to their normal proportions. He rolls back and forth across the floor.

[10:47:47 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He raises his head up but quickly lowers it when he sees the stream of fire hitting the ceiling. It's almost over... You got this, Lucas. He waits until he's reverted to get any closer.

[10:49:39 PM] Omniance: Lucas: After a moment, a lout snap is heard and he stops struggling or moving at all, it doesn't even look like he's breathing.

[10:50:36 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He blinks at the motionless Lucas. ...Lucas? He goes up to him and checks if he's breathing.

[10:52:25 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He suddenly gasps for air, and as he does the unnatural blue eyes shift back to brown and his skin returns to normal. He blinks a few times before he looks at Yuri. ...That really hurt...

[10:53:20 PM] Arbi: Yuri: You're alive! He hugs him tightly.

[10:56:25 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He hugs his brother back, though he seems really weak.

Cassandra: Her voice comes over the intercom in place of the Elderly Man's. It seems you've survived your tests... I don't have anything ominous to say. No words of wisdom, like he might have had... Maybe you can take comfort in knowing that as you saved your brother from Undeath... The man who did this to you has died...

[10:57:22 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He blinks and looks at Lucas. You were turning into a zombie?

[10:58:07 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He shrugs slightly.

Cassandra: A type of vampire would actually be more accurate...

[10:58:51 PM] Arbi: Yuri: That's sick... He looks his body over. Think you can vomit that antidote back up and bite me?

[11:01:50 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He rolls his eyes. We could've lived forever.

Cassandra: That was the ultimate irony of the trial. The both of you would likely end up together regardless of the outcome. As either... Whatever the hell it is you are normally, or eternally as blood sucking vampires... Lucky that you chose to play the game instead of take the deal. Had you just told us where the glasses were, we'd have let you and your brother go, however... You'd have never gotten the antidote, and eventually he'd have turned from what little of the vampire's poison was already in his veins.

[11:03:50 PM | Edited 11:05:11 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He's starting to look pale. I was... being serious about... the turning me into a vampire thing. He raises his arm with the deep cut and looks down at the puddle of blood forming under them. That's... that's a lot of... He falls forward onto Lucas.

[11:14:05 PM] Omniance: Lucas: Yuri?! He grabs him and rips off a strip of his shirt. He wraps it around Yuri's wound tightly several times before tying it off. Hang in there Yuri! He pulls the harness off and throws it to the side, the IV coming out of his arm in the process. He lifts his brother up. You have to help us!

Cassandra: ...What?

Lucas: We're supposed to be together, that's what you said yourself! If he dies what the hell was the point of that jackass's test!?

Cassandra: I-

Lucas: PLEASE! He stands up, carrying Yuri in his arms as best he can.

Cassandra: The doors open at the far side of the room, Lucas can see them just beyond the sheets. After a moment she runs into the room, a gun in a holster on her side. She runs up and helps Lucas move Yuri onto the hospital gurney and wheel him out. After a few seconds they're in another room, the body of a withered old man is laying on another hospital bed a few feet away. I can suture the wound, but I don't know his blood type.

Lucas: He holds out his arm. Are you kidding?

Cassandra: ...Twins... Right. He grabs needle and thread from a nearby box and uses scissors to cut the strip of cloth from Yuri's arm, she immediately starts to sew it shut. There's a needle and a tourniquet in the cabinet over there, tie off your arm and I'll draw some blood after I'm done here. After a few minutes the wound is treated, with Yuri's arm heavily bandaged. She walks over and puts a needle into Lucas's arm, letting it drain into an IV bag.

[11:17:14 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He slowly opens his eyes, while Lucas's blood is draining into the IV bag, and looks at his brother. Love you, little bro...

[11:18:28 PM] Omniance: Lucas: He wheels up next to Yuri. We gotta stop almost dying every other day man... The stress alone has probably cut our lives down to thirty years... His eyes are watering slightly.

[11:20:45 PM] Arbi: Yuri: He laughs weakly and closes his eyes again, resting while he gets a blood transfusion from his brother.