And Then There Was One (2019)

Chapter 15 - This Isn't A Normal Amusement Park...

Orlando, Florida

July 2, 2019

Roughly 6:30pm EST

Vladdy, Ville, Brendan, Jo, Ben Thomas, Brett, Brayden, William, Kasperi, TT, Colby, Yanni, Timo, Mitch, Boris, Alex, Taylor, Ross, Otto, Roope and Jonne all emerge out of the small theatre room into the cloudy exterior.

At once a crisp muggy breeze blows at them.

"We're definitely in Florida," Jonne remarks, licking the tip of his index finger and then thrusting it up into the air.

"Ewwwww," Vladdy whines in unison with Brett.

"Gross," Brett tacks on.

"How do you know?" Colby snaps at Jonne.

Jonne smirks at him, lowering his arm back down. "Don't question me, Penalty Minutes! I just know." He puts his hands on his hips and snaps his head up, proudly. "I'm an expert at echolocation."

"I don't think he knows..." Kasperi mutters under his breath, sharing a look with William.

Colby lifts his hand up as if to strike him. "I swear—I'll..."

"Can it!" Brendan snaps, throwing his arm out and snatching Colby by the collar of his shirt. "You're gonna be a problem aren't you?"

Colby glares at him and lets out a low guttural tiger-like growl. "You don't know me, Hab!" He swats at Brendan's hand and steps back, brushing himself off in an offended way. "Jackass."

"COCO, UNCLE T.O. SAID NOT TO USE THOSE WORDSSSSSS," TT sing-songs, leaning into Colby's shoulder and batting his eyelashes.

Colby turns to glare at the young man, but he deflates with a sigh. "This is too much energy..."

"Anywayyyyyy," Brendan remarks, turning to the others.

Vladdy is staring, batting his eyelashes at Ville, while Brett and Brayden are hugging one another close from the side. William and Kasperi are now making out with one another. Taylor is staring dreamily at Ross, who is spinning around in place.

Brendan sighs.

"Well, dang it, y'all. Where exactly in Florida are we at? This ain't no park I've ever been ta?" Roope inquires, as he tips his black cowboy down on his raised head and looks around with his hands on his hips.

They all turn around to look back at the place they'd come from, seeing a haunting exterior of an old mansion building. Cobwebs and amazing horroreque detail etch into the walls as well as a broken window effect for the small glass frames. In front of the structure, behind them is a giant stone plaque that reads:

"People often hide behind the facade of the truth.

Enter if you dare.

Only the strong survive the masquerade of the night."

Across the front (or side?) of the building attachment to the fat silo-shaped theater they'd come from, creepy, blood red lettering reads, 'The Manner of Masks.'

Vladdy screams and ducks behind Ville, peering very cautiously over his left shoulder. "I don't like the looks of that place! I'm NOT going back in there!"

Brendan sighs and pinches the bridge of his nose. "Namestnikov..."

Ville turns slightly to him and pats his head. "Hey, it'll be okay. I'm not going to let anything happen to you, as your Ranger friend." He puts his other hand up to his chest, over his heart and looks heroically at the timid blond.