The Mansion of Trials and Trials

Reunion

Chandelier lights shone on the grand staircase in the entrance hall, number of Wanderers got transported to this widely place just around fifteen minutes ago. It was chaos. They were mumbling all sorts of conversations and topics. After hearing Puppet's crazy speech, they were all in shocked and confused faces. Some felt relieved, some stomped their feet on the ground hard, some didn't feel anything, some were in happy faces. Either way, no matter it was good or bad news, it was the most unexpected news to them for their rest of their lives. To be frank, the Residents had no idea which one were the unguilty and guilty, even for the Master, most people were in gray areas and zones. Only a few could be identified. And most of them are either absolute guilty or absolute unguilty. It was like a pole on opposite sides, something extreme. Either way, it was not the Master who decided who was white or black, it was the Mansion. The Mansion was the true ruler of this place. It was a living house, to be exacted, it was alive.

"Look, Von, everyone's here." I said as Von and I walked down the grand staircase. Everyone was alive. Or should we say dead in the actual world. Either way, all Wanderers were still breathing for now.

"Yes, look! I can see Mr. Holden, C, Keira, Inga and the others. Looks like everyone is here." Von stated. "Let's go and see their surprised faces!" he suggested.

"Yes!" I agreed.

"Mr. Holden, I'm so glad you are alive." Not far away, C approached the man with a blind cane. Holden. Sensing around, even though he could not see, he knew he was still alive. It was good to be alive, he thought.

"Cadan. It's good to see you too. How are you doing? Did you survive from the trials?"

"Sadly, no. I got killed by Brain and those Shadowpeople. Judging from the Wanderers I killed, I would be pledged as absolute guilty in the Trial of Guilty and Unguilty. I wasn't surprised through, I know one day God wouldn't forgive me from preying against humans. It was against nature law. It just can't believe it is now. Guess I shall go to hell." C sighed. He believed in gods and goddess. He believed in heaven and hell. What he didn't know was this Mansion was the judgment of heaven and hell.

"I guess I am a clown, dancing around stupidly under the lights, like a puppet. But I'm glad you got what you deserved, you sacrificed your life for me and you should be rewarded to go back to the mortal world. The bad got what they deserved. The good could see their families and friends. What a happy ending." C nodded his head. His eyes showed sadness. He never thought death was just in front of him.

"You're wrong, Cadan. I'm sure you won't go to hell." Holden smiled and comforted him.

"Don't be kidding, Mr. Holden. How can a murderer not go to hell?" he laughed bitterly.

"You're not a murderer. You're a hunter. You prey for only the bad ones. Not the good. Besides, I don't see you kill any innocent people in this Mansion. You even comforted Luna. You kill for the good people, Cadan. That's something you should be proud of. Not everyone can do that. I'm sure the gods would show mercy on you. You should be in the gray zones, not being pledged as absolute guilty. If you don't believe me, why don't you ask Puppet, the Residents. Don't they can determine which ones are absolute guilty and unguilty? You should certainly ask them." Holden suggested. C shook his head.

"No, but thanks. It would be like praying to God that I should not be executed. I shall not do such a thing. If hell is my destiny, I shall accept my fate. I will not ask for mercy. For hunting humans is something I am proud of."

"If you say so, I wish you all the best." Holden smiled. Comforting C was the only thing he could do. After all, it was the gods who determined the good and the bad. God blessed.

"Thank you, Mr. Holden. I wish you good luck on your second life." C thanked him and walked away. He needed time to accept his fate. And he needed it alone.

"Hi, guys, how are you?" I approached towards Keira and Inga. They were standing close together.

"Reed. Hi, are you unguilty or guilty or I don't know?" Keira asked. She looked tired.

"I'm unguilty. You?"

"I'm 'I don't know'. Puppet didn't tell me. I guess I am in the gray areas."

"I'm 'I don't know' too. A lot of people is 'I don't know'. We are all in gray zones. Not many are unguilty or guilty."

"I see. I wish you good luck." I said.

"Thanks. I can't believe I am dead already. If it wasn't because of the memories, I wouldn't believe it!"

"How did you die?" Von asked.

"Fire incident. Inga is due to traffic. Why are there so many incidents. It's not fair! I'm still young. I can't believe I died. Darn god!!!!"

"It's just luck. We ran out of luck so we died. Things like this happens. There's isn't a choice." Von sighed. For him, it was predictable. He always ran into bloody gun fights.

"Hi, guys, anyone in the guilty group?" A young woman walked near us. It was Vera.

"What? You're guilty?" Keira cried, "I can't believe it. I always thought you and Brain are in the winning team."

"Oh, things like this happens. Although yes, I can't be, I as the detective Ash Leaner, died and got pledged as guilty in such a young age. You can't predict what you been too, can you?"

"Wait, you're the detective Ash Leaner? Geezers! Isn't Ash Leaner one of the most famous detective in the world?"

"Haha.......I was. Now, I am just Vera. Reputation and money is meaningless under death. I should have known it......." Vera said with a bitter smile. I saw regret in her eyes. Of course, who wouldn't regret for what they did after they heard what Puppet said

"But I'm glad I got to experience such an extraordinary experience. Too bad we are all going to forget about everything that happened here after we left this Mansion."

"Wait, what did you just say, Vera?"

"What's wrong, Reed? I just said we are all going to forget what happened here. Everyone we see, everything we did. If not, this Mansion will be famous in our mortal world."

"What......this can't be! If I forget everything that happen here, that means.......sorry, I have to go!!!!" Pimples appeared on my skin. I ran back to the corridor, up the staircase. It was impossible.

If I need to forget everything that happens in here, that means.........

I will forget about Levi.

No, this can't be.......

I won't allow it!