Don't Keep the Lights On

Chapter 11

We ascended further into the tower. "Final floor, guys!" Dolly said. We nodded. Ahead of us was a plain floor shrouded in darkness. In the centre was a large Altar, with a book stand and the book. A black, leather bound book, with red writing burned into the cover. Four brightly lit candles surrounded the book, with the four pillars of the altar piled high with bones. How did we know? They also had a torch. "Oh, yay." Hannah gulped. Connor gave her a reassuring smile. I almost jumped out of my skin when I felt a icy hand slide into mine.

"Sorry. My hands are cold." James apologised. "It's fine." I said, squeezing his hand, which felt really solid, surprisingly. "The final floor you have reached, where many souls have been breached." A voice echoed. "Please, just let us get this book and we'll leave you in peace!" Hannah pleaded, pearly tears on her lashes. The voice gave a long, chilling cackle. "I don't think so, my dear. You see, the ritual is beginning soon. I will gain ultimate power, Lucifer will rise from his grave and hellfire will consume the earth. All I need to do is sacrifice three living, breathing, mortals. Andrea is already in the devil's service. What about you?"

I understood immediately who was speaking. "Puppeteer, your words affect me not! Come out and face us!" I called. Another cackle. The Puppeteer came out of the shadows. "Very well." He smiled, snapping his fingers. The room around us melted, and we were once again somewhere else. It was a stage. Rows of red leather seats filled the auditorium. In the crowds of people, I recognised my mom and Dad. Tanner. Andrea. But Hannah, Dolly, James and Connor all stood next to me, dressed up in frilly dresses and suits. Hannah and Dolly had matching makeup. Judging by the circumstances, I probably did too.

James and Connor also had makeup. The Puppeteer came towards us with needles as thick as pencils. "Oh god." I whispered. Hannah was crying. So was everyone else. "HELP!!!" I screamed. Nobody, not Andrea, Tanner, nor my parents, responded. "NO!!!" I cried as the needle jabbed James' hand. Another one did the same with his right. He Puppeteer was turning us all into puppets. We all screamed out loud when the needle penetrated our skin. Everything felt so painful my vision was disoriented.

"The show's starting, My puppets. Enjoy your selves..." the Puppeteer gave us a toothy grin. Blood dropped from my hand and pooled onto the floor. Further inspection confirmed it was true for everyone else. Then we were pushed outside and made to dance. The rest of he show went by in a horrid blur. I remembered we had to drink the blood we dropped onto the floor. The Puppeteer yanked us painfully back and forth, the laughter at our cruel treatment growing stronger, threatening to consume us like a wildfire. I cried, screamed, but nobody could hear me. I lost hope.

Then my vision began fuzzy. The last thing I remembered was throwing up onto the floor before I fell into oblivion.