Lies #5: Sanders

Chapter 10

Roman:

The chokehold loosened and as oxygen returned to his lungs, Roman's vision returned. The dark edges of his eyesight faded, and he blinked a few times to take in their new environment. The four of them were in a large hall made of wood and stone. Marble pillars stretched up high, holding the roof above them, two parallel lines towards a large throne made of wood. A velvet carpet stretched from the insanely tall wooden double doors to the same throne. The room was even larger than that; with large dining tables on either side of the pillars, and doors that most likely branched off to other places in the building. The thing that caught their eyes, though, was not the majesty of this palace, but the hundreds of dead bodies that were piled around them.

The bodies had been mutilated beyond recognition. Their organs were on display, and their mouths were open in cut-off screams. Limbs lay scattered about, along with weapons made of steel that glimmered in the light of the torches that lined the walls. What... what happened here? What is this place? It looked like a medieval palace, but how was that possible? There weren't any places like this in real life, not in 2020. And why were all these people dead here? Who had slayed them? What kind of evil person had done such a thing? Remus? Wait- where was Remus? Roman looked over his companions- Virgil, Logan, and Patton. Remus isn't with us. But he said he was going to be in the test with us- did he get here before us, kill these people, and run? Or did he lie about joining us? Whatever the case, Remus had certainly lied about what exactly was going to happen.

"Wow," Virgil said. He kicked at a steel sword hilt, sending it clattering away. "Looks like there was a massacre. The killer probably caused it." Bending down, he drew one a knife from his right boot. I wonder why he still calls Remus "the killer"? He knows his name... Logan adjusted his glasses and shook his head, "No. Not even Remus could kill this many people- nobody could. Not at once, of course. They would overcome him easily with this great a number. It must've been a group of fighters, or an army. Either they were defending this palace or they were attacking it, in which case, they obviously succeeded. It is interesting that where we are standing is completely clear of any bodies. And why are we here of all places? I certainly do not remember coming here."

"Guys!" Patton carefully made his way through the mess of dead bodies and to the wooden doors. "Look! There isn't a sign. Maybe Roman's test is really easy to solve!" He grasped the handles of the doors and pulled them open using all of his might, grunting with the effort as they creaked wide and sunlight poured in.

A man was standing just behind them, on the stone steps that led out into a beautiful stone-cobbled courtyard. He was wearing brown pants and a beige shirt, with worn shoes that looked as if they'd been used for too many years. He had a balding head of brown hair, with dull gray eyes shining with delight. "Ah! You have finished dealing with the enemy! Congratulations, my good sires! The people will be so pleased to hear you have been successful from protecting them from the invaders!" Hesitating, he cleared his throat. "Sir Patton, if you could step aside so I may take you all to the Royal Balcony?"

"Uh- yeah!" Patton seemed surprised to be called 'Sir' but moved out of the way. The man breezed past him and made his way over to one of the other doors. "Come along, my lieges! The people are awaiting to hear the news! Oh, and Prince Roman, let me guess- you were the greatest fighter of them all! I'm sure you relished in their screams and begging for mercy. What a brave soul you are, your Royal Highness!"

Prince Roman... The mystery of the massacre clicked into place. We murdered all these people. We killed them all. I killed them. I'm a killer, just like Remus. But he didn't remember killing anyone. How could he have forgotten such a terrible thing? I'm so sorry, all of you. I didn't mean to kill you. I didn't want this. I never wanted to hurt anyone. And yet, that's all he ever did. Remus, Valerie, Terrence, Laila- they all suffered because of my actions. If only I hadn't been there- if only things had happened differently.