The Dead Are Talking......Shhhhh

Chapter Three

Chapter Three- Re-Take

The council room smelled, not just like dead people but with another smell. A smell I couldn't yet put my finger on. Sarah sat a couple seats away with her family, they were there to support her during this extremely stressful test. My mother sat on my right side, Old Dead Man sat on my left. The council members filed in silently. The low murmering of people died down as the head of council stepped forward.

His skin was green, not like a dark forest green, more like a right before you vomit green. His eyes were black and empty much like his soul. They were two empty pits of sorrow that held all of his memories from the day he died, it made me wonder somedays how the head council member lost his life. I heard that the people in council were promoted because of their deaths. He probably had the most painful, heart wrenching death anyone had heard of. His voice was hollow and rough, gravely against the echo of the microphone.

"Welcome citizens of the Underworld and visitors. Today we will be witnessing four testings. Our testees are Claire Summers, Hanna Nobleton, Sarah Hook , and Shay Ryder!" He exclaimed.

My eyes flew wide open as my name echoed around the council room. I looked around at the people crammed inside the council room. The walls were draped with a deep red fabric with a black lining. I looked over at Old Dead Man to see if this was a mistake, he didn't look back. He just nodded his head to the Head Council.

"We will be sending guards around to collect you." The head council exclaimed with a hint of excitement.

I looked over at Sarah who was being led out by a guard. I smelled something foul next to me, I turned my head towards the smell. There was a guard standing above me. His green skin was bruised in certain places. He smiled down at me with the one rotting tooth still attached to his nearly black gums. I smiled back softly. I rose out of my chair as he wrapped his weirdly textured hand around my arm. It felt as if he had glued a piece of sandpaper onto his hand.

I tried to keep my composure as the section of the council room I had been seated in stared at me. The black pits bore into my back as I walked away. I kept my head held high.

"Are you ready miss?" The guard asked.

His voice was as rough as his weirdly textured hand.

"I believe I am. Why am I testing?" I wondered.

"The whole council wants to see you fight. Just to make sure you're legit." He explained.

I nodded my head and took a deep breath which caught in my throat.

"What about a weapon?" I asked with wide eyes.

"You'll see." He said in a sort of mischevious tone.

I looked up at him warily but kept walking. No reason to question the dead right now.

He led me through low tunnels that made it impossible to see three feet in front of me. I could barely see my own two feet. The guard left me to a small cove,  a small flickering candle lit the space slightly.

"You will wait here until the tunnel opens. Follow the light and it will lead you into an arena. There you watch the others when they test. No one test will be the same, so don't just depend on someone elses  moves." The guard explained.

I nodded and plopped down on the ground. The guard walked out of the black cove, a huge metal door slammed behind him. I guess there was no way to escape. I shrugged my shoulders and hummed "Transyvania" by McFly to myself. After a couple bars of humming I started singing.

"People marching to the drums, Everybodies having fun to the sound of love! Ugly is the world we're on if I'm right then prove me wrong. I'm starting to find a place we belong. Who is your lover (i couldn't tell) When hell freezes over (thats when i'll tell) Who is your lover (i couldn't tell) when will this STOP!"

I finished the last part of the song before the door slid open slowly, dragging against the walls making a horrible gut-wrenching noise. I walked towards the light and started humming "I'll be okay" by McFly, thought it might actually fit the situation. I smiled slightly as I looked into the dark grey eyes of my mother in the crowd. I heard the growl from across the stadium. The hell hound had been released.

Shit.

Claire stepped forward slowly, a knife in her pale hand. Her hair was a light red with little brown highlights that were barely noticible. Bright blue eyes made her look scared as she stumbled across the dirt towards the towering beast.  She was white-knuckling that thing. Poor girl. It took her a good fifteen minutes to kill the beast. She walked away with a huge gash over her arm, her hand was nearly cut off by her own blade. I had to hide my smirk under a grim frown.

The girl Hanna walked forward, nearly looking the same as the first girl. Same looks too, I think they were related. This girl took nearly HALF AND HOUR to kill the beast. At least she passed though. She came towards us slowly. Sweat dripped from nearly every pore of her body, her grey shirt had dark spots on her back, beneath her armpits, and on her stomach. She looked at Sarah with a face that was diserning. She then looked at me and rolled her eyes. I stepped forward and put myself right in her face.

"You have something to say to me?" I snapped knowing Sarah would do nothing.

"Just that you aren't as bad as you think you are." She retorted smartly.

I stepped closer.

"At least I won't take thirty minutes to slay a little doggy. I'll walk away with no injuries I'll bet you." I barked.

"Yah right! At least my dad is still around." Allie said in a snotty tone.

I drew my fist back and nearly matched it with her face, I looked back and saw Sarah holding my arm,  looking at me with wide eyes. Her eyes held fear.

I looked around and saw the whole audience watching us. I lowered my fist after Sarah made sure I wouldn't do anything to the bitch.

Instead I rose my hand and slapped her. The crowd cheered loudly. Sarah smiled at me proudly. I looked back at Allie, tears were rolling down her face.

"And at least I know when to keep my mouth shut." I whispered right next to her ear.

"ENOUGH!!!" The head council exclaimed, "Sarah, lets go!"

Sarah stepped out slowly but gradually regained confidence. It took her ten minutes to slay the beast, she didn't have a scratch on her body as she walked back to me. She threw herself into my arms and wished me luck. She pressed the knife into my open hand. I flipped the knife in my hand and caught it with ease. Not the time to be cocky, I reminded myself.

Little butterflies circled around in my stomach as I walked into the center of the arena with my head held high. I smiled as the crowd cheered. The slap had earned me some points with the crowd.

I heard the growl from the other side of the arena...I snarled back. It was my time.