The Funhouse (ON HOLD)

Part 9: Fighting Madness

       Uneasiness washed over Dennis's face at the sound of the Kid In The Screen's voice. He didn't know why, exactly. Before,  he felt no such thing. Only rage and confusion. But now, he couldn't quite describe it, but there's something about him that a little voice in the back of his mind constantly kept nagging him that he should know about it. Like he was supposed to remember something. But what?

      He tried to push aside his own problems for now and focus on what the kid was telling them. He heard him giggle through the speakers. "I see you all took a shower early~!"

      Alan growled. "Don't even start, you—"

      "—Little shit." Stefan finished for him, smirking in Alan's direction before glaring back at the camera . "What did you call for, anyways?" Martin held Yanna protectively while Sarra grabbed Steve's hand and squeezed it, a habit she has developed ever since the first round. Surprisingly, even though Dennis thought Steve resented his twin sister now, he still squeezed her hand reassuringly back. He might have even smiled at her, from the corner of Dennis's vision.

       This made a smile curve Dennis's thin lips at the sight. It was good to know that they were still friends, that  they were all still friends. So far, none of them has lost their nuts and bolts from this insane place. And Dennis was determined to keep it that way. 'At least we're all still sane.' he bitterly reminded himself. After those two deaths, it had scarred his friends. A few days ago, Sarra kept sobbing every time she slept just thinking about the first death— Alexa's death. For some reason, Dennis felt like he was the one responsible for her death.

       Over and over had he and the others been telling Sarra that it wasn't her fault, but she would always shake her head and would just sob more. She was silent when sobbing, but that doesn't mean the pain was bearable. It did the exact opposite.  She had looked so miserable that Dennis found himself worrying about her often. But during games, it's a good thing that she regains her composure.

       And there was something else that made Dennis worry. He had just witnessed two deaths in a row with clear eyes, the scenes each unfolding before him... and he did not scream or shed a single tear of grief. 'What's wrong with me?'  Is it the remnants? The fact that he found death completely normal? What? He couldn't understand himself.

     

       "I came to tell you players something veeeerrryyy important~!" the kid sang. Dennis imagined him dancing around in joy or something in his hidden room where he was watching them and broadcasting. "Let me guess," Rex said, resting a hand under his chin and arching a brow. "Bad news?"

        Damien couldn't help but laugh at that.  Gabriel shot him a look that said, 'What's so funny?'  then Damien shut up.

       "Well, I don't know whether this is good or bad to you," the kid said in an almost nervous voice, but it immediately went back to his odd cheerful one. "But I'm here to tell you that a friend of mine is currently reconstructing Round Fourteen!"

        Alan grunted. "So? What's so special about that?"

       "Oh, Al!" the kid chuckled again, and Alan scowled and darted his head away, to avoid the gazes Martin and Stefan were giving him. "You care so much~" he joked. "AM NOT!" Alan glared down on the floor, as if it was the replacement of the kid in the screen in the meantime.

       "As feisty as ever, I see~" then the kid cleared his throat, and said in a more serious tone, "This Round is your chance to move forward a little more. Maybe more steps than you know.."

       Rex asked, "What do you mean by that..?

        The kid gasped, like he was just insulted. "Exactly what I mean by that! Like for example," Even without the image of the kid right now, they all knew he was smirking. "From Round thirteen, to Round twenty-six." Martin's jaw dropped slightly for a second, but he closed it just as fast.