And The World Will Keep On Spinning, With No Ending Or Beginning

It's Not a Game (It's Just a Ride)

"Ocean Rosenburg,"

A voice fills the warehouse, Ocean spins on her heel to face Karnak.

"What?" Her voice quivers, the last time her name was called by him she had to sing. She regretted her song so much, she can't believe she said all that stuff about the others.

"You have the first vote," Karnak simply says, Ocean's eyes fill with fear.

She turns to Constance, "Connie, tradesies?" She asks hopefully, Constance hesitates before Karnak's booming voice fills the warehouse, "No tradesies,"

Ocean sighs and looks at everyone, she can't vote herself, that'd prove she'll never learn, she'll vote Constance, Constance deserved so much better than her, this could be some sort of apology for how horribly she'd treated her.

"I choose Constance, I'm sorry I was never the friend you deserved, I hope you find a friend - one who treats you much better than I treated you," Ocean steps back, holding Constance's hand.

"Very well, one vote for Constance Blackwood," Karnak begins, his speaking being interrupted multiple times by glitches.

"Noel Gruber, it is your vote now" Karnak's voice continues to be interrupted by glitches, "Remember, time is pressing," Karnak continues.

Noel starts to pick at the black nail polish coating his nails, unsure of who to vote for, he'd recently developed feelings for Ricky but he'd started to get closer to Mischa, he didn't know who to pick.

"Time is pressing, Noel Gruber" Karnak's voice loomed over the warehouse.

"Right-" He takes a deep breath before continuing, "I pick Mischa, he deserves to meet Talia, love conquers all," He steps back, smiling softly at Mischa, who's eyes were filled to the brim with tears. Somehow Noel felt like he was betraying Ricky in some way.

"Very well then, one vote for Mischa Bachinski," Karnak was giving the votes in order of song it appears. Mischa runs to Noel and they hug.

"Дякую тобі, поет," Mischa's voice is squeaky, his eyes are filled with tears.

"Mischa Bachinski, you are next," Karnak's voice has a sort of threatening quality to it, threatening enough that it startles Mischa while he's vulnerable.

"Що за чорт?"

"The vote,"

"ах- I vote for Noel, the world needs more poets," Mischa doesn't hesitate, his voice breaks as he says the last part.

"Very well, one vote for Noel Gruber,"

Three votes left, Ricky has already decided to vote for Savannah - Jane -  Savannah doesn't understand what it was but she will choose Ricky, Ricky helped her and Constance feels that Ocean has learnt something so she'll vote for Ocean.

"Richard Potts, it is your vote,"

Ricky takes a light breath, turning to Savannah. "I choose Savannah - Jane - she deserves to know her identity," Ricky wheels himself back.

Savannah looks at Ricky and attempts to smile, the porcelain coating her face makes that impossible.

"One vote for Jane Doe," Karnak continues to glitch, sparks begin to shoot out from behind his box. Time is of the essence.

"Jane Doe, it is your vote,"

"Ricky," Savannah simply says, turning to the boy in the wheelchair.

"One vote for Richard Potts," Sparks continue to fly from behind Karnak's box. 

Time is of the essence

"Co-" Karnak stops his speaking for a brief second before continuing. "Constance Blackwood, you have the final vote,"

"Me?" Constance's voice squeaks.

"Yes, you"

"I choose Ocean! She's really learnt some lessons and I think she can change for good!" Constance's words all bunch together.

"Very well, one vote for Ocean O'Connell Rosenburg,"

"What now?" Ricky asks, sparks continue to fly out of Karnak's box.

"That is not for m--" Karnak is cut off by flashes of light and the portal to the other side opening.

"We have to walk through!" Ocean exclaims, grabbing Noel's arm, Noel pushes her away.

"And if that doesn't work? What if we're all just stuck here!" Noel responds. Ocean rolls her eyes at his pessimism. 

"Noel stop being such a pessimist! Just trust me!"

"Trust the social darwinist?"

"I hate to admit it, Noel, but she's right," Ricky chimes in. Noel finally relents and nods.

Like that the six teenagers joined hands and walked through it, the light was blinding yet refreshing. The smells of the fair filled their nostrils, flashing lights and  screaming children.

They were alive (again).