Chapter Text
Perry Richards was standing on the edge of a volcano, staring into the eyes of a man. The man’s name or appearances he couldn’t fathom- he couldn’t even be sure what gender the man was- but one thing stayed certain in his mind’s eye. The man had done the ultimate evil. The man had murdered several people in brutal, barbaric ways you shouldn’t say in front of children. His mind whispered to him the truth, what he knew was the truth, and the truth said this man was the man who he had been looking for.
“I’m afraid your time is up,” he found himself saying, standing on the volcano’s crust with the man.
“Time is a human construct.” The man stated grimly, staring at the volcano’s hot yet watery depths. The man rubbed the sweat off his forehead with his sweaty arm, his other occupied with that of someone else- he had another person by the arm! Perry knew what was going to happen, and he felt he had to take action.
“You’re not throwing them in the pit, you big loaf.” The man turned and smiled sadistically.
“That’s really not your choice to make.”
“It is, by law!”
“What law is there, to me?” The man asked. “And you’re not any kind of lawyer anyway.”
Perry felt obligated to save this person’s life. He didn’t know why. He just did. This man was brutal and inconsiderate, and it was his duty to make up for it. The person on the man’s arm struggled, wailed and cried for a release. The man grunted in displeasure, looking at the person on his arm. “You’re struggling will only help you into the pit!” He spit savagely. The person stopped all struggling and wailing, but unfortunately wet his pants. “Pathetic.” the man laughed at the person’s humiliation, but they didn’t seem to care, for they stared at the pit of lava, silent sobs racking their shoulders. When the person did not react to the man’s torture, the man’s face turned to a deadly frown. Perry felt what was going to happen next. The man was getting sick of the person. They were going to be dead any minute.
“Stop! Please! I beg of you!” Perry cried, horrified.
“No. This is the law of the land. You don’t know how long I’ve been waiting to kill each and every one of these haughty freaks. They think they’re getting somewhere, and have the audacity to brag about it!” The man shook in anger, but took a gulp of saliva and calmed himself. “Now is the time. There are only a few people left on this island. And anyway, how will you convince them? Don’t they all think they just disappeared? This island is huge, there could be bodies all over, for all they know. Poison, untreated animal bites, food poisoning, wild animal attacks... There are so many possible answers for death. No one will ever think they were murdered.
No one, except of course, the best detective I’ve ever met. Perry Richards, I’ll give you that. You pay attention to detail, you’re smart and you do well under pressure. You would’ve been a great pick for NASA. But I’m afraid you have run your last run. You got me. I killed all those people. But now it’s time I kill two more.”
He threw the person off the edge, and an ear-splitting scream of pure agony echoed. Not even a plop was heard, but they both knew they were gone. “I will kill, if it means protecting the last remaining people on this island.” Perry said determinedly. The man laughed, a shock to Perry’s ears.
“No. Nice try. I will kill everyone on this island.” Perry looked at him.
“Why?”
“I work undercover for NASA. NASA doesn’t need you guys. It would be looked down upon by the public if they didn’t accept college interns. It’s my job to get rid of all the college people, so there will be none for them to accept. If I don’t get rid of them... I will die.” The man explained, looking at Perry with a flame in his eyes. “I intend to stay alive, whatever it takes. NASA is my dream and I will get a job there, if it’s the last thing I do.” The man said, walking closer and closer to Perry. “I’ve got bills to pay, I’ve got mouths to feed! There ain’t nothing in this world for free!” He exclaimed, sounding very similar to a song Perry had heard once. “And NASA told me I must do whatever I have to do to win.” He said, smirking at him, inches from his face. “And, by god, I will.”
Perry didn’t even know what had happened, it happened so quickly; but he was floating through hot, humid air and he knew what lay below him. A pit of lava. He let out a scream, even though he knew it would do nothing to save him now. In his last moments, he wished for his fiancée, Elizabeth, the best.