Escape (Stan x James)

Chapter 8

"..." No one dared a word. The grand being turned to them and put its attention to the corpse in James' arms. He waved his arm over the body and Dan stirred. He then snapped his head to stare at the struggling Alice. He walked over and put his hand on her back, calming her and releasing Fraud's grasp on her. She swiftly passed out due to her exhaustion - Dan following suit after noticing familiar faces there.

"I'm sorry." His voice was electronic but soft. "Netgear Stan's corpse was closer to me, as well as him being younger." He placed a hand on Ralph's shoulder, who looked up at him confused. "Kate was still alive and merely under Fraud's control." He took a deep breath. "There is nothing I can do, however, for your leader or his second in command." Ralph understood what this meant. "Fraud has lost all resemblance of sanity or humanity. And I cannot do anything for your friend. He was a good monster, Ralph."

Tears welled up in his eyes. He fell to his knees and tightly hugged the child in his arms for comfort. James and Stan were silent for their fallen friend.

"You all wish to escape these mazes, and your leader's tyranny, yes?" The stare master and scare master nodded. "Very well. I shall grant you this. The five of you will live as humans in a household. Some of you will retain some features of your monster selves.

"What about Fraud?" Stan asked, a scowl forming on his face.

"He will be trapped here, for as long as he takes to heal and become sane. He will guard these mazes. This will be his punishment." He looked upon them and chuckled slightly. "Do you wish to leave now or when the children awake?"

James turned to Stan then to Ralph. "I wanna find Identity's body," the murderer stated.

"You'll die. He's probably in Maze 2. You don't know the way there, and Fraud's wandering around," James argued.

"Stan could go; he can teleport!"

"Do you really think he'd want to risk it? Fraud's gone crazy. Fraud might even be guarding the body!"

Ralph felt the corners of his white eyes prick with tears. "Let's go..." He wiped them away and looked up at the large being.

"Very well. Good luck." He smiled sadly and softly at them all. Stan and James held hands and looked towards the being. The door crashed open, a black figure with large claws stood there and roared. Swiftly, the Last Hurdle snapped his fingers and everything went black.

Finally. Freedom.

THE END.