I wasn't sure what this meeting was going to be about, but I knew it had to be serious. Jack never cancels a performance. The hall was crowded and the air was moist, anticipation filled everyone's hearts. For all we know, Jack could've been planning to burn this building down with us all inside. I propped myself up against the wall, watching everyone squirm in their seats. Chatter quietly arose, everyone's fears of this meeting being shown. "Will we be punished tonight?" "Is this the day we die?" A few more phrases were passed around, until the crushed velvet curtains were pulled open. LJ was there in all his glory, looking more beautiful than ever. For once, I couldn't tell what he was feeling. It was usually very easy to tell what mood he was in based on his eyes, but tonight, I wasn't sure. Something had to be wrong. I could feel everyone's stomach drop as LJ looked around the room. "Good evening ladies and gentlemen.." He said with a sinister smile. Something was wrong. Something was very, very wrong. He never talked so kindly to us in that manor. "Tonight, we'll be playing a game." And with that, the curtain behind him raised. There was a long, splintery table with faded pine. There were six chairs, two of them empty.
The four sitting had their wrists chained, bruises and blood on their face. "Tonight, the ones joining us will be Milo, a dirty, lying trader." Jack said. Milo looked as if he would fall out of his chair, LJ must have seen him returning an act of kindness to the performers. "Joshua, a runaway." I had never seen the boy before, he must have been new. He looked young, and very frightened. "Caroline, the one who talks back to her master." She looked pretty beaten up, I knew she had a big mouth, but I'd never think she'd talk back to Jack. "And there, this, disgusting excuse of a man, Eyeless Jack. He has crushed my dreams..he has taken my love away from me!" LJ screamed at the audience. I've never seen Jack this mad, tears were coming to his eyes as well as mine. EJ was so beaten up, he would've been better dead. After a moment of collecting himself, LJ called the next two people playing. "The last two will be seated soon. They are myself as well as my love, YN." I shuddered at those words, fear and anger shooting through me. He loved me? If he really loved me, he wouldn't have treated me the way he did. I began to shake with many different emotions, joining the others at the table. I could feel everyone's stares as I sat in between LJ and EJ, the pressure beginning to drown me. LJ smiled, beginning to say. "Last person standing gets a prize. If Milo, Caroline, Joshua, or YN wins, they get to keep their lives. Now, if either myself of Jack here wins, we keep YN, fair enough?" LJ shouted at the audience. It was silent as they nodded. "Good! Now let's begin. Joshua, a game of would you rather. Pick your slip of paper." LJ demanded. A clown placed two pieces of paper with a few scribbled words. The boy began to sob, looking up at LJ. "Please, don't make me choose.." He cried. LJ smacked his fist on the table as he tended to do, shouting at him again. "You want me to choose for you!" He shouted. The boy cried harder, shaking his head no. "Choice number..two.." He cried as two clowns came, strapping his neck to the chair. The plumper one took a rusty pair of pliers from his pocket, beginning to pull out his front teeth. Joshua screamed a blood curling scream, the crimson liquid flowing from his mouth. The audience cringed as the clown finished up, pulling out both rows of teeth in no time. By the end of it, Joshua was toothless and died from the pain, Caroline sobbing silently. The clown pulled his chair backstage as the game continued. "Milo, your turn. We've already got something picked out." LJ smiled. "Jack, no, please don't do this! You know I never meant to betray you!" He screamed. I began to tear up. I loved Milo, he was one of the sweetest people I had ever met. Without all that makeup, you really could see his blue eyes and defined cheekbones, his soft blonde hair falling over his forehead. LJ sinisterly chuckled as the clown came towards him, holding an icepick in one hand. "Hold still, Milo." He muttered, holding his neck back. It only took a second for his eye to be popped out, falling into the clowns hand. Blood poured as the eyelids swelled shut, screams escaping from Milo. I cried harder, seeing him in so much pain. Yet, he did not die. "You're up Caroline." By now, she was already weeping. It didn't take long for her to die. She was quickly lit on fire, burning up until water was poured. Her screams ceased after she was doused and was pulled back stage with Joshua. By now, the audience was terrified. So was I. Milo was still screaming and crying at this point, when I heard EJ's husky voice in my ear. "YN, before we die, I need to tell you something. I'm sorry for leaving you, I'm sorry I abandoned you. If you choose LJ, I won't be upset. I want you to live, and if that's what you have to do, then please go with that decision. I love you YN, I love you so very much. And my, are you beautiful tonight. You really are a sight for sore eyes.." I let a tear spill as LJ clutched his teeth. "Stop your whispers! You know what, we're going to skip turns. YN, it's your turn." I began to shake as I felt arms go around me, stopping at my wrists. I closed my eyes, waiting for pain, but it never greeted me. Instead, there was a small pistol in my hand. "I love you YN. I know you could never see that, but I love you. I could never win with you, I could never steal your heart. No matter what I did, how I dressed, I could never catch your attention! Can't you see? Didn't you ever realize? I always fed you when you didn't deserve it, I always made sure you had clothing while everyone else went nude! You always came first! I only punished you, what, two, three times for the time you've been here, while everyone got several punishments a day! If I didn't, you would've left. I love you YN, please see that. Choose! Choose who you want! You must shoot the other to be with the one you love. For once in your life YN, make your mind up." My hands were clammy and shook violently, I thought of both of the choices. I knew both were dearly in love with me, and either way, I would be loved. I would be loved for the rest of my life. I thought for a long time before making my decision.
Bang!
~The End~
