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The match; Novelist, Entomologist, The Prospector, and -̸̣͎̖͌̊-̴̰̾̈́-̴͈̟̃͗̕-̴̨̰͕͗̓-̴̢̪̦͠. .
It felt unreal, it didn't feel like all the other regular matches, atleast for Norton Campbell. It was time to follow through with his plan; the dark woods was a map Norton was all too familiar with, it was perfect.
The match had already begun, it was time to start. The who was most vulnerable was Melly Plinius.
He'd never harmed a woman... but that arrogant woman- She was from a wealthy class, she doesn't understand what Norton has been through.
He stared at her from afar, she held her flashlight with her back faced towards him. Norton began to run towards her, as Melly turned to face Norton, he punched her hard.
Flashlight flying out from her hand, as she fell to the ground. The Entomologist tried fighting back by kicking and pushing away the Norton's arms, but due to the strength of the miner, he held her down.
Norton punched her once more. He wrapped his hands around her neck, Melly frantically moved her hands to his hands, trying to pull them away from her throat.
She tried screaming for help, however nothing besides gasps for air came out.
A bell rang; a teammate was dead. or was she injured?
No, she's dead. Her body is stiff and not breathing.
Norton stood above her body, staring down at her, blood seeped through the sack.. Nobody within the manor besides that little girl saw her face; she could've been the most beautiful person and Norton probably has ruined her face. Although Norton wanted to take a look, he physically couldn't bring himself to do it.
Now that novelist.
Norton ran towards one of the buildings, they had a locker with tools inside. He grabbed the axe from inside. He knows where they were hiding.
He lazily dragged the axe behind him, simply humming an old tune the miners used to sing. He looked down ate dirt, following the tracks to an house with a locked door.
Now grabbing the axe with both hands, he raised it high, used to this motion... Swinging down on hard rock. Watching it crack, swinging down again til a chunk broke off.
Now there was a large crack within the door. He dropped the axe, easily able to fit his hand through the opening and turning the locked door open. It was dark, Norton could barely make out inside the shack.
Suddenly the Novelist came out from the Dark and punched Norton in his jaw, making the miner stumble back. Norton lunged for the other to grab his arms, but the Novelist broke free from the miner's grasp as punched him again. and again. and again.
Norton staggered back trying to regain his composure to fight back, before he could he was kicked to the ground.
Once the miner was fully on the ground and being beaten like he did to Melly. It made Norton feel sick. His head was spinning as he could feel his face burn with blood spilling from his nose and blood fill his lungs.
Is this what Melly felt? He couldn't breathe and his face burned like hell.
The prospector watched the Novelist stand, with his fist tight clenched fully covered in blood.
The novelist had moment to catch his breathe before stumbling away.
Now. There Norton laid, in the dirt, covered in his own blood and sweat.
He coughed up blood that was trapped in his lungs, he gasped for air. Barely clinging on life.
No. He can't die yet;
he still needs... he still wants...
"What do you want?" quavering voice asked.
Norton vision blurred as he looked around for the source of the voice, there he saw a man no older than the age of late twentys. White skin and hair yet a full black outift with a simple iris that stood out on the coat.
Norton stayed silent; was he imagining this?
"What do you want?" the white haired man asked again.
"To live a decent life for once-" Norton's answered.
"Am I dying?" Norton asked.
"Yes. Norton you are..." The white haired man. Norton made an O shape with his lips.
"Isn't it strange that you don't remember what you want... or why you did such thing to Miss Plinius?"
Norton was silent; why did he attack Melly again? Was she even arrogant?
"You don't remember she was your friend. You don't remember relationships within your team. You don't remember what was before the match started."
I don't remember.
"All because of this-" The other pulled a small bottle from their coat. "You unknowingly drank from this with your wine before the match started" the white haired man continued.
The white haired man looked around; the final cipher popped and the gates were now able to be unlocked. Still Norton laided flat on the ground, he had no energy to get up.
A different bell rang. One escaped; The Entomologist.
"I know deep down you never wanted to hurt Miss Plinius, she was good to you. But you're tired. You were drugged. You were blinded."
Norton felt tears roll down his face; she lived. Thank god.
Norton felt cold all over until the white haired man kneeled down next to him, he radiated warmth and comfort.
"Who ever are you? An angel?" Norton remarked
"No. Although you did call me so long ago before I passed"
Passed long ago? No it couldn't be...
God, Campbell think! Antonio? No. Antony? No.
Andrew; "Andrew Kreiss..." Norton's heart fell heavy.
That's right.
Now I remember.
The manor; Where everyone was, held trapped for these matches and games held by the Baron.
The matches were fine until the rules were changed, people were punished, a few were killed or turned in the process.
And Andrew was one of them who died in the process.
"God... Andrew..." Norton bit cheek hard, he was dying and seeing "his angel" in front of him.
"Please. Tell me I'm just halluinating you... and that your not actually watching me die... please!" Norton bit his lip quivered as he tried to hold back tears.
The other frowned and shook his head; "No everyone within the manor who has passed is trapped. We are all still here Norton. We watch people die, it hurts us to see the Baron turn everyone against each other-"
"It hurt to watch you hurt others" Andrew finished speaking as he looked away.
The environment of the Dark Woods felt quiet, "It seems the match is coming to an end..."
The two were silent; Andrew was still kneeling next to Norton and Nortons breath was becoming slow and uneven.
"Andrew?" Norton whispered.
"Yes Norton?"
"Please stay with me until then-" He spoke out and he felt his vision began to blur. He could barely see his angel's full features besides a small smile.
"Of course... I will be here"
Norton closed his eyes as he felt a piece of his hair get brushed away from his forehead and kiss on be planted after.
I'll be waiting.