Rigatoni/Ramen

Runer/Lorn

Laugh Track

The man swept across the room, medium length auburn hair flowing as he paced. He was making eye contact with each of the nineteen other people, all of us in a circle, him at the center. I was tempted to shout Why are you the boss? But immediately decided against it.

Everyone in this room is a murderer, at least to some degree. Runer whispered into my ear. Some of them are well trained assassins, but others were pushed by bad luck while holding a knife.

Is it really that simple? I mumbled back, trying to keep the kook in the middle from noticing us.

He contemplated the answer. Some people are born to kill, others are just unlucky enough to endure it, Lorn.

I wanted a first date, not a party for psychopaths. I rolled my eyes. The centerpiece man coming all the more closer. Hey, his eyes look the same as yours.

Yes they do.

I thought it was extremely rare to have red eyes, and even more rare to have duo colored eyes.

It is. His face showed no emotion, but I could tell he was thinking of something.

And look at the two conversationalists! Laughter rose up in the room, You thought I wouldnt notice, didnt you? The man said stepping closer to Runer and stroking his face.

I looked the man with daggers saying, Excuse me, but hes already taken.

Is that so? He looked away disappointed, Such a beautiful trinket only belongs with the best- And you are not the best. He stared at me. Laughing coursed in a wave, again.

The locked gaze of our eyes seemed to go on for millennia, until finally Runer cut in. Whats your name and origin? A monotone hiding his emotions.

One of the first things I noticed about him was the fact that all he does is study people, and read. I dont think he even owns a phone, and its nice to meet someone who hasnt been absorbed by Pinterest, or Snapchat.

So your infamous job is asking peoples names and origins? What does origin even mean?

It suggests a planet of origin in his case, but to you it would mean a country or something.

I whipped my head towards Runer, but his eyes were only trained on the mad man. Is that true? Does this mean your some kind of Intergalactic Pol-

Shut up, Lorn. He sighed showing impatience. Queue the laughing again.

Runer looked up, breaking his gaze from the flamboyantly crazy guy for the first time. What the bloody hell is that? He swore. It makes no sense when the laughing starts, and has no reason. Confusion showed on his face for the first time. And what is your name? We cant keep referring to you as The man in the middle or simply Crazy.

Senis Dowstein. And the laughing has a purpose, but first, the game must be presented!

Runer scowled, Thisll be fun he retorted, high in sarcasm.

Senis walked to the center of the nineteen people and began saying, Your all here for a reason. You all have something different about each and every one of you. He turned to a woman wearing a long cloak, Some of you are trained assassins, then to an ordinary man, Some of you are ordinary killers. Now to a long haired boy no older than fifteen, And some of you just love the taste of blood.

The laughing started again, begining with Senis and spreading through the circle, only to stop at Runer and I.

Everyone in this room has killed someone, besides one exception, Senis turned towards me, he said quietly gritting his teeth, You are simply a plus one to Mr. Runerithpolynorthic, and out of everyone here he has the most blood on his hands.

I twisted my head to look at Runer, but his gaze was fixed on Senis. Runer, what is he talking about?

Its best you just let me do my job. I told you not to get involved. He said monotone.

You never told me to not get involved! You told me that you wouldnt explain yourself! I yelled at him, causing all the heads to turn towards us and start laughing.

Let me explain the rules to the game. First, there will be one winner. Second, anything goes. Third, do anything to win. Everytime the game is lessened by one player, or the intent to lessen the game by one player, happens the laugh track sounds- like the Hunger Games with their cannons. Oh, and fourth, I dont count as a player, any attempt to try to eliminate causes your immediate death. He covered his mouth innocently, Whoops, did I just give away how to win the game? There goes some of the fun He trailed.

Do you expect us to murder each other? A middle aged man asked.

Well if I told you how to win it would be no fun, right? Do what you like. And with that he trotted to the back of the room where a stage was set, with only a king's throne.

He expects us to kill each other. I stated in disbelief.

Yes, but thats not the problem.

I turned to Runer, Then what is?! How is this not-

Look, everyone is confused, listen. Theres no laughter. If what Senis said was true, then laughter means murderous intent, so we just have to stay away from wherever the laughter originates from. He reasoned, but we both turned startled when a woman giggled behind us.

Do you think you stand a chance? She asked, There may be two of you, but only one of you has killed right? Even if what the kook said was true about you killing more than anyone else, it wont matter. She lunged toward Runer ready with a knife.

Runer! Watch out she may-

Lorn, shut up! The last thing I need is your rambling! He said exasperated and dodging her knife more times than I could count.

Just be safe, thats all that matters. I whispered, staring in every direction paranoid. Im completely useless.

Lorn, the people fighting to your left- He was interrupted by a knee to the stomach, - one of the guys is about to lose, grab a knife when he does!

And what good will that do? I cant fight, even with a knife! Laughter was filling the room now, making it hard to hear.

If you can get a knife, then I can draw my blood and defend myself.

Ive never been more confused. How will bleeding to death help? Youll just die!

Your gonna have to trust me Lorn! He grunted, keeping the woman at bay.

The man to the left fell, bleeding with a knife in is gut, just as Runer said. All I need to do is grab the knife.

Thats exactly what I did. Runer! Catch!

I dont know where the courage came from, but I do know Ill need a lot more in order to stay alive at Runers side.

I watched in awe with everyone else as the room went completely silent, and the only thing left standing was Runer in the middle, I was to the left, and Senis still on his throne.

Runers eyes shone the darkest shade of red possible, as close to black as possible. And out of his slit wrist was blood. But it wasnt ordinary, no. He used it as a weapon. Before I could even blink everyone in the room, besides us three, were dead.

Mr. Dowstein, Runer cocked his head to the side, the boy I once knew gone. Only a purely psychotic murderer left. How will you atone to your crimes? You werent on my list for jobs, but that doesnt matter. One more body, with your crimes as well, wont matter to the bosses.

This is what he meant when he said his job. Runers a psychotic mercenary. Who knows if he enjoys it, but from the looks of it he enjoys it too much.