Chapter Text
10 minutes on the clock.
We've... somehow managed to get into first place. Some way, some how, both the original First and Second place ended up forfeiting. Leaving Hong Lu, and us by proxy, in first place. The sinners were all in a mild state of shock, many of whom were still injured.
<"Shoot. We need to be second place, not first..."> is my first thought, looking at the bundle of coins in Hong Lu's hands. It was so long that Ishmael was struggling to tie it back on. But that wasn't the issue.
We didn't NEED to be in first place. We needed to be in second! We didn't care at all about being first place! How in the heck are we going to find somebody else to take first place for us-
Before I can lose myself to my subtle panic, Sinclair speaks up. "Wait. There's someone out there who's still trying her damnedest to become the Family Hierarch. And she still hasn't given up."
That's right. We... we might have a chance at this actually. I clear my throat, as best as I can without a mouth anyways.
<"Hey guys..."> I look to the others. <"...Are you thinking what I'm thinking?">
9 minutes on the clock.
Without even so much of a nod, they follow me as I break off into a sprint. I'm dreadfully out of shape, and my legs have been screaming this entire time. But it's no matter, the end is in sight. We just... desperately have to find the ONE person who's capable enough - and trustworthy enough - for us to dump all of our coins onto.
I could swear I can even see a sparkle of hope in Hong Lu's eyes. But it very well could've just been that "jade eye" he had.
It really didn't matter, because we still couldn't find Xichun. She was probably hiding somewhere, hunkered down and everything.
"It seems that the fight wasn't enough- Could it be that they're looking for the final few stragglers? To get even MORE coins? Such a bold showing of greed!"
The announcer's voice crackles overhead, but nobody pays attention to it. Instead multiple of them split from the pack temporarily to poke their heads into corners- before running back to join my side.
8 minutes on the clock.
It can't be that hard to find Xichun! She wouldn't just let herself be eliminated somehow, not when she said she'd fight until the very end. So she's gotta be hiding somewhere... Come on... Come on!
"Th-this is where we saw her last!" Sinclair calls from my side, soon to be responded by Outis saying "No sign on this side! Meursault-"
The rippling sound of sinner after sinner reporting no sign of her is deafening, she has to be around here somewhere- We don't have the time to search this place from head to toe.
7 minutes on the clock.
"MANAGER ESQUIRE! RED! RED SPOTTED!" Don's shrill voice cuts through, all of our heads snap over. We can't see a thing, but it's the closest thing to a sign we have. We all tumble around a corner, only to be met by another contestant panicking and screaming for mercy.
It's not who we're looking for.
"False alarm! Keep moving!" Ishmael barks out, leading the charge the other direction.
"Wh- What!? The group just found another contestant, but they completely ignored them after seeing them- Could it be? Perhaps they have a grudge against somebody- You contestants best be on the look out! Seems like they're after somebody with red clothing!"
Hopefully this drags Xichun out of hiding- Or alternatively it's going to make her hide even more.
For the wings sake please let her realize that it's them who won.
6 minutes on the clock.
Heathcliff is getting antsy, to the point where they actually found another contestant and barked at them to find out where Xichun was. However right before, the poor guy forfeited and was escorted out.
It's becoming blatantly clear that we're looking like a warmongering party on the hunt for anybody and everybody. Even if that's not true. We're just running past every single thing we see. Other contestants, the puzzles, the prisoners, they all blur away as we continue searching. I can't even blame them for the panic, we HAVE to track her down, or we're going to have a whole new problem to deal with.
One I wouldn't know how to BEGIN to explain to Vergilius. "Sorry we made two people forfeit, got put in first place, and instated Hong Lu as the Hierarch"? Like that would fly. Not the time to dwell on it, besides that.
"5 minutes on the clock! Wonder if we'll see a bloodbath right before the end, huh?? The crowd is on the edge of their seats!"
Fuck.
5 minutes left, and we haven't even gotten a SHRED of a hint where Xichun is.
This is getting dire. We have to find her or-
<"Guys! Find any contestants and offer a single coin for information! We have PLENTY of coins at this point">
We all skid to a stop and a few sinners grab a single coin each.
"A baffling turn of events- are they looking to barter for information!? Just WHAT happened to make them want to track this guy down so badly?"
4 minutes on the clock.
Shit shit shit shit. Even with the bartering, most of the information is barely anything. Just a general idea. But it's okay. It's fine. We've cornered down her location to this last half. She's somewhere around here, in some crevice or hole, and we'll find her.
As we reach the general location, I stop and point in the suspected direction.
<"FIND HER!"> I shout urgently, as if commanding them in battle.
They all nod amongst themselves.
What happens next I can only describe as a bunch of rats scattering into the various rooms. At this point, I doubt anybody is going to even be after us. With the way we've apparently tormented the rest of the contestants? Yeah, safe to say most of them are likely hiding away.
3 minutes on the clock.
"YOUNG XICHUUUUUN!!!!! WHEREFORE ART THOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Don's the first to start shouting Xichun's name, and very quickly everybody else is joining in. It's an awful cacophony of voices as they all shout and call out for her.
"Xichun!? Why would they want Xichun... Unless...??? Maybe Xichun pissed them off before hand! Maybe they want to take her out for good! What a shame-"
2 minutes on the clock.
It's looking useless. Like we might actually lose. Well- we would WIN, considering we're in first place, but we would lose the mission. That's the moment I see something out of the corner of my vision. Two people running the opposite direction of the sinners.
I grab Hong Lu's hand, dragging him along.
<"XICHUN WAIT!"> I don't even think about how she can't understand. But my call seems to startle her out of her sneaky get away. A yelp and the sound of footsteps alerts the rest of the sinners.
Without needing a command, they all dart to my side and begin chasing after Xichun.
"ONE MINUTE ON THE CLOCK! THEY'RE IN HOT PURSUIT! WILL THIS BE IT???"
Xichun makes the wrong turn, and I'm able to corner her. Letting go of Hong Lu solely to dash up and grab Xichun.
She looks absolutely terrified, even like she was about to attack me if it wasn't for the fact that it was... me.
There's no time to really think about it. The seconds are ticking away. I shake her by the shoulders.
<"HOW MANY COINS DO YOU HAVE??? XICHUN THIS IS URGENT!"> I'm wasting time just shouting. I see somebody step in to translate, but I quickly shake my head. There's no time.
"She appears to have 27 coins, manager." Meursault finally points out something useful. I let go of her and grab her hands, and there's a moment where I struggle to pry her fingers open. Maybe I'm being a bit too harsh.
Wei tries to step over, but is just as quickly blocked by Ishmael shouting in a panic, "THERE'S NO TIME TO EXPLAIN!"
<"JUST GIVE HER AS MANY COINS AS YOU CAN! WE ONLY HAVE A FEW SECONDS LEFT!">
She looks so confused and worried. Flinching as I speak, her mouth opens as she's about to scream or yell- I'm not sure which.
However the sinners do as I say, grabbing coins off of Hong Lu's bundle and shoving handfuls into Xichun's hands. Xichun looks like she desperately wants to run away, scrambling on the flooring and only being kept in place by my own hands holding her wrists still.
I wish I could tell her why we were doing this. But there simply wasn't any-
"TIME!!! THAT'S IT! THE SECOND ROUND HAS ENDED!"
The announcer shouts out, and we all freeze. "With... a rather surprising conclusion- We'll need to count up just how many coins each team has..."
The coins are suspended in the air, before attaching themselves automatically to whoever was "in possession" of them at that point in time. A few of the sinners collapse to their knees with a sigh of relief.
I'm pretty sure Xichun is trembling.
Hong Lu gives a cheery smile. "Well. That's that! Sorry sister, I hope-"
"What the fuck" she squeaks out, stumbling backwards from all of us. She collides with a wall, and sort of... crumbles.
We might've gone a bit overboard.
"Okay- We've got the rating all properly organized. Jia Huan, third place with 30 coins! Jia Baoyu, second place with 73 coins! Jia Xichun, first place with 74 coins!"
I sigh in relief. By a difference of one coin. One, single, coin. We managed to secure second place. I look off towards the first place winner.
Xichun is passed out. And... it looks like her soul is currently escaping her body.
"Young Xichun! Art thou so- YOUNG XICHUN, NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Don screams in horror as she realizes the state Xichun is in.