Chapter Text
It was a cold night, freezing even. While all of their friends were partying, drinking, or gambling… They were venturing out in the woods—they had gotten a strange letter in the mail saying,
———
Dear,
Chance ######,
We are delighted to invite you to our grand ball.
Please come prepared, you never know what could happen here.
Precisely at 8:00. Do not be too early, nor too late.
We’ll be expecting you.
-S
———
The woods were like an endless loop. It just kept going.
On and on, over and under. He obviously didn’t remember the way he came from. The only choice now is to keep going.
He wouldn’t give up. I mean, he honestly couldn’t. Telamon, why would he agree into going to this place?
He could be gambling away his life by now winning, losing, betting. He isn’t used to such… peaceful scenery.
Snow started to fall, making him shiver even more. The service around here sucks. It’s pointless trying to get help anymore.
At last, they had found a mansion, hidden deep in the woods. It looked nice… At least nice enough to say that it isn’t haunted.
Chance stood in front of the place, eyeing it up and down thinking some sort of butler is gonna come and escort him in.
“Telamon, this place gives me the creeps.” He muttered to himself, feeling a sense of excitement mixed with dread in his stomach.
Snap.
The sound of a stick getting stepped on filled the air. He whipped his body around and swiftly took out his flintlock.
Nothing. Absolutely Nothing—
“Telamon, that scared the #### outta me!” He called out. Slowly putting his flintlock back in his hidden pocket.
He looked down, it was him stepping on a stick. Telamon, he was stupid.
“Forget it, I’m here now? Aren’t I? …Weird that it’s called a party when there’s absolutely no here. Is this a blind date? Am I getting set up? Am I—“
He kept talking to himself, a weird habit he has. How was he supposed to live like this?
“Ehh… Might as well go in.” He said, slowly reaching for the doorknob and turning it.
Inside, there were chandeliers, drinks, food, everything that you could imagine.
It was heaven for Chance. He stood there for a moment. Thinking this could not be real.
He had barely took a few steps in when he heard someone yelling behind him.
“Hey! Mister! Sir! Who are you?” A young voice called. Chance turned around and saw a kid standing there.
“Hey, kid. Ya’ lost or something? I don’t think this place is meant for ya’.” Chance replied, eyeing the winged fellow up and down.
“I came here with my poppa! He allowed—well not allowed… But I followed him here! He got this weird envelope in the mail and I really wanted to go… So I thought it’d be a good idea to just follow him!”
An envelope you say… Maybe there were other people coming to this… party.
“So where is he? And kid, I dont think you should go anywhere without your parents permission.” Chance scolded. Knowing well that he did the exact same thing in high school. Sneaking out to go to some party.
“Well he doesn’t let me go anywhere anyway! Anywho! What’s your name mister?” They asked in a cheerful tone. “Mine’s 1x1x1x1! But you can just shorten it to 1x. If thats easier for you!”
“I’m Chance. Nice to ya’ kid. But, I think we should try finding your dad. He might be worrying about you by now.”
“Okay!!” 1x1 exclaimed, excited to get to know this Chance person. He seems nice.
——
“1x1x1x1? Are you there? I told you to stay home!” A voice came out from the woods.
“Hey! Thats my poppa!” 1x1 ran, not thinking twice about getting lost.
“Kid! Don’t run off like that!” Chance yelled, Telamon this kid was a handful.
The voice kept getting closer and more clearer. At last, 1x1’s dad popped out from a tree.
“1x! What did I tell you about sneaking out and following me? You could’ve seriously gotten hurt. Telamon knows what Brighteyes would’ve done if you went missing.” Shedletsky started,
“And you. Who are you? And why are you around my kid? Are you planning to do something to them? Are you—“
Chance cut him off, “Woah, woah, hey! First of all, aren’t you that one admin? Second, your kid went up to me first.”
“…”
Silence.
“Ahem. That was a joke. I didnt mean to come off as rude or anything.” Shedletsky apologized.
Silence filled the air. The three just stared at eachother. Chance spoke up, “I… Well. okay?.. I didn’t think you were being rude.” He said, “I say we walk back to the mansion i found.”
“There’s a mansion?”
——
song change: Echos Of Tomorrow by Chamber Chu
——
The mansion had everything they could have imagined. It even had a few bedrooms. each with at least a bed or two.
It looked like someone was planning this. Not in a party-type way, but in a way that Chance couldn’t explain.
The three sat on a couch near the entrance, waiting for more people since obviously it’s a party. Chance wondered why a huge mansion would be hidden in the forest. He really regrets this now.
A few minutes later, Chance and the other two heard a group of people walking towards the mansion. The three walked toward the entrance, with Shedletsky leading, and there. They see a about four people.
One of them, Chance knew. “Hey, Elli! Did you get invited too? I didn’t know you had connections like that!”
“Is that a compliment or..?—“ Elliot said, getting cut off by Chance, “It’s whatever ya’ think it is, Ells. Anywho! Who are these other three with ya’?” Asked Chance.
“Oh! I completely forgot to ask for their names!” Elliot realized, turning around to face his group.
“Excuse me, I completely forgot to ask but, what are your names?”
A lady with a administrator lanyard spoke up, “The names Jane Doe. And this is my husband John Doe.” She said with a soft smile.
“That’s lovely! And yours…?” Elliot’s tone slightly faltered when he turned his head to the person behind the couple.
“Two Time. Pleased to meet you.” They said with a creepy smile.
Two Time looked so thin… Everyone noticed that but obviously no one wanted to speak up.
“Well! Glad we all know each other’s names, let’s head inside..!”
Inside the mansion, one of the bedrooms light was turned on. Strange since Chance hadn’t seen anyone slip past him.
“Heya, guys?” Chance called out for everyone’s attention, “Was that light on before we came in here?”
Everyone shrugged. Wow, that helped a lot. Whatever, I’ll just be the one who checks on it.
While Chance ascends upstairs, he hears multiple voices coming within the room. Voices that sound a bit too familiar…
####. Is that who I think it is.
——
song change: Rush E by Sheet Music Boss
——
Chance waits outside the door, listening very carefully to hear if these voices are actually who they think they are.
Telamon, please hear my prayer and do not let these people hear me— Creeeeek!
####.
“Did anyone else hear that?” Consigliere asked, having to hear a creek.
“Hear what?” Caporegime said, “I think you’re going insane or something.”
“He already is. Remember that one time he called spider webs, cow webs?” Soldier laughed, “I’m so glad I have that on video.”
“Settle down,” Mafioso piped in, “We still need to figure out if this invitation was a trap or not.”
“I don’t think it is. Why else would there be food and clothes?”
“Do you think they’ll notice if I take a few snacks for the road?” Caporegime blurted out, stomach growling.
“Of course you want food. When do you not talk about food? Also, didn’t you just eat before we came here?” Soldier questioned, completely forgetting about the mission they were here to do.
“Boys. That’s enough,” Mafioso said, coldly,”We came here to do a job. Not some tomfoolery.”
“Haha… tomfoolery—“ Caporegime quickly lowered his voice but not before Mafioso gave him a glare.
“Ahem. Sorry.”
——
Did they hear me? Hopefully not. I am not about to get slaughtered tonight.
Gosh these wood floors are really annoying me. Why even choose wood? Why not, marble? It looks better anyway.
Why am I even thinking on how the floor is? Telamon, that doesn’t matter. I just need to quietly go back downstairs…
With one swift motion, someone opens the bedroom door.
“Ah hah… Nice seeing you here… Maf…” Chance said, nervously.
“Do not call me that,” His eyes darkened, “Did you do this? Some fake party just for some fun?”
“Whaat?… ‘Course not! I got invited here, just like you,” His signature smile coming back.
“Now that we’re here, care to tell me where all that money you owe us is?”
Chance’s smile faltered slightly, “I have it! It’s just uh… Somewhere! I pinky promise I’ll give you it soon. On my momma’s soul.”
“You said that last time,” Mafioso said, towering over Chance, “Boys, get ‘em.”
“Wait, wait! We can talk about this like civilized people!..” Chance backed up. Then suddenly, ran down the stairs where the others were waiting at.
“Get back here!” Mafioso shouted, his lackeys following behind.
How am I supposed to lose them? I’m not going back outside! I don’t even have any weapon— #### yeah I have a weapon.
With a swift motion, he took out his flintlock from his suit and aimed it towards Mafioso.
“Bet ya’ didn’t know I had a gun—!” Chance pulled the trigger but instead of a bullet, gunpowder got all over his face. His gun had exploded.
——
“What was that?” Jane said, panicked. She got off from her chair, turned a corner and saw Chance being pinned down by Mafioso’s lackeys.
“What are you doing? And who are you?” Jane yelled out, “Put this poor boy down!”
“No can do, miss. He has been on our target list for quite awhile.” Mafioso said calmly.
“That doesn’t matter now! There’s more people here and we’re locked in here! All the windows and doors are locked shut!” Jane said, panicked.
“We need to work together, there’s a broadcast on the television. I think if we listen to it, it’ll give us clues on how to escape.” She said, her voice lower now.
“Hey, Maf...,”
Mafioso glared at him.
..ioso…Could ya’ let me go now?” Chance whined, “Your goons grip is strong!”
“Boys, let ‘em go.” Mafioso ordered, “He may be alive, for now.”
“Now, follow me,” Jane said, “That broadcast must be starting by now. And plus, you two need to get along unless you wanna die in here.”
“Yes ma’am!” Chance saluted her.
Mafioso’s bunny ears drooped, signaling that he was probably not gonna get along with his worst enemy.
His lackeys all looked at each other and shrugged. I guess they will listen to her, for now.