Some scurried around with the strange items tucked under their arms. Others drug the water Basin behind them in a silent struggle. Once everyone looked like they were in place for something they stood, dazed, waiting for the final command.
I look up at the man who stood tall next to me. He was watching everyone, i could see his eyes moving over the crowd and his pupils slowly fluctuate. He turned to me and asked, almost as if he knew my answer, "are you ready?"
I nodded, feeling strange and nervous.
The man snapped his fingers and the people started moving like clockwork. Everyone weaved between others and it looked strangely uniform.
The lights shut off and a spotlight lit a single man up on a platform, just near enough to the roof that he could have touched it. A rope hug from the ceiling and was wrapped around his neck in a noose. He straightened the rope as if it were a stylish tie. Holding his arms out to his sides, he slowly started to inch forward towards a tightrope haphazardly hung in front of him.
The room was silent as the noosed man started across the rope, wobbling slightly as he did it. Once the man got half way to the other platform, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. "He is going to make it" I whispered hopefully. "I wouldn't be so sure," the masked man sighed through a fist he held over the mouth slit of his mask.
Before I had time to question his statement I saw a small red object fly through the air towards the man on the rope. It hit him and he started to lose his balance.
I watched in horror as the stranger slipped and fell silently through the air, the noose around his neck catching him in a sickening jerk.
My knees gave out and i tumbled to the floor. I was enveloped in the masked mans arms and looked up to see everyone standing as if they weren't in the least bit concerned for the poor dangling man.
Clapping cut through the silence like a knife. The individual behind the mask next to me slowly beat his hands together in terrible praise. "I believe there is another game to play," his voice turned to stone, his body ridged, and his eyes froze over with malice.
A young man strode to the basin of water and put his hands on the rim.
"What is this?" I asked, disgust drenching each word.
"It is but a simple game where you bob for apples," said the masked man. Apple were poured into the basin and the man shoved his head in. Around 5 people shoved the bobbing mans head into the water as his body heaved for air. "except in this game you must get an apple to get another breath," his mask jumped as his hellish laughter echoed through the ballroom.
"I don't want to see this!" I screamed.
