Blood and Romances (re-write)

Chapter Four

As they were herded into a single-file line, the group made their way through the imposing doors at the front of the room, the same doors that the officers had always entered through. Upon entering the room behind the doors, they were met with a breathtaking sight - a vibrant, colorful staircase that seemed to lead to several rooms, each labeled with a number. The absence of names for the rooms added to the mysterious atmosphere.

"Wow, it's so bright in here. I feel like I might puke," Bebe exclaimed, squinting as she shielded her eyes from the intense light.

Upon reaching room number one, the group came to a halt. Inside, they found a house-like setting, with a door leading to a living room, a hallway leading to a dining room, and a kitchen illuminated by an eerie green light.

Confusion ran rampant as the group tried to discern the nature of the game they were about to play. Was it a family role-playing game? How does one win this game?

"Seriously, what the heck is this?" Stan questioned as they cautiously entered the room.

"Hello everyone, today's game is 'Statues.' The rules are simple: move when the lights are off, stop when the lights are on. If you are caught moving or talking while the lights are on, you will be eliminated. Once you reach the green light in the kitchen, you are safe. Fail to reach it in time, and you will also be eliminated," a voice announced before abruptly cutting off. The group had been split into five lines, each comprising about 65 people, creating a crowded and tense environment.

With the ping of the intercom, the game commenced. Despite the consequences being just elimination, the tension in the air was palpable. The living room was packed with everyone, and as the lights came on, Scott Malkinson made a fateful decision to move, shifting his foot ever so slightly. They all heard a gunshot. Then saw him on the floor. Now he wasn't moving.

A young woman let out a piercing scream, her voice echoing through the room as she frantically began to run toward the designated safe spot. Her screaming faded as she got fatally shot and fell to the ground, her desperate attempts to escape thwarted. A wave of terror swept through the crowd as others joined her in a frantic attempt to flee, only to get shot as well. Suddenly, the intercom crackled to life, and a woman's voice filled the room with a chilling chuckle. "That was quite the show, wasn't it?" Her words hung in the air, leaving an unsettling silence in their wake. As quickly as the lights had come on, they flickered off, plunging the room into darkness once again.

"Did they just..." Butters stammered to Kenny. "Yeah... they just killed them."
"Agh!" Tweek yelled as he tripped over a dead body on the floor.
"Woah! Hun, are you okay?" Craig reached forward and grabbed Tweek's arm to pull him back up. "Mhm!"
Kyle and Stan stayed close together. Hugging onto one other for dear life.

The game was coming to a tense conclusion. The safe spot was within reach for many participants, but Wendy and Bebe were still navigating through the obstacles, their goal tantalizingly close. "Just keep going, Wends, we're almost there!" Bebe's words were a mix of encouragement and determination as she tried to reassure her friend. Despite Bebe's words, Wendy's rising panic was evident as they pushed forward. Suddenly, as the lights flickered back on, Wendy stumbled, her heart racing. Reacting instantly, Bebe leaped in front of her, shielding her from any potential harm.
Taking a bullet to the chest. She went down, her body almost falling onto Wendy. It was a close one. The lights flickered back off, and Wendy shrieked. She ran as fast as she could to the green light. Slipping into the kitchen just in time.

The intercom crackled to life once again, emitting a sharp, insistent beeping noise that cut through the tense silence. The countdown had ended, and despite the ample warning, there was still a significant crowd of people out there in the arena. In a chilling display of swift and ruthless efficiency, every single one of them was eliminated in just a matter of seconds, leaving behind a haunting stillness.