Event #7 "Looks like I've won! Now you're it!"

[Something]

All four members of the "game" sat tired up to the chairs at the grand table, where the "tea party" was once held. Without any notes or explanations one by one they wake up from their slumber. Tristan and Ryan have both of their hands tied up behind them and their mouths are taped, preventing them from talking. Thalia has an ability to talk but she is tied up to the chair as well. Phillip has one - his right arm - free to move around. In front of Phillip lies a gun.

---

TASK: Phillip will have to choose who lives, who dies tonight. Listen to the host, think twice before saying or doing something, you have only one try. Both of you have only 3 posts (per player) to survive this event. In the first post - Phillip and Thalia will wake up and react to their surroundings. "Naya" is observing the event from the backstage, so she is hidden in the shadows.

PARTICIPANTS: Phillip, Thalia

POSTS ORDER: Phillip - Thalia - Naya*

*No post order for Tristan (and Ryan if Juju wants to RP for a bit, but it's not obligatory <3) - he can wake up/or not wake up during the whole event and post as much as he wants.

For example, the post order can look like this:

Phillip - Thalia - Naya - Phillip - Thalia - Naya

Or like this:

Phillip - Tristan - Thalia - Naya - Tristan - Phillip

If you have any questions about the post order or anything else about the event - pm me! :3 Good luck!

[Phillip Pendragon]

Phillip was ruined to say the least. He was freezing all over as his body focused on keeping his organs functioning, his head was feeling more than dizzy and he felt like being just about to fall over if there wasnt someone holding on to his left arm. Maybe indeed he had passed away during his sleep and now it was all finally over. Maybe death itself was the thing holding on to him, possibly just about to drag him to the afterlife. After what felt like hours though finally he awoke from his delirium, he soon came to realize that it was a rope which was keeping his body to fall over as he was tied to a chair, only his right arm being left mobile.

Normally he would have been shaken to the core by his position but given recent developements it didnt seem unusual for him to be tied up. What would Amanda take away from his this time? His ears? His eyes? Maybe even go straight for his brain or heart? As he slowly raised his head however, eventually he almost got a heartattack from what he got to see with his eyes wide opened in terror. Both Tristan and Thalia, or in other words his heart and soul, were also tied to a chair and apparently seated at a table just like him. Both of them, as well as Ryan who happened to be there all tied up as well, were alive but given what he saw next it seemed as it was nothing but a matter of time to change that. Right in front of him was lying a gun and he could only imagine what would be happening next.

No matter how wild his thoughts went however one thing was very clear for him. There was no way he would harm his brother nor his lover. If Amanda wanted to take a life it would had to be Ryans or his.

[Thalia Turner]

It seemed, for the first time, Thalia wasn’t truly alone in her subsequent nightmare. The gentle pearlescent eyes of a woman – elderly – locked on to her with a solemnness that struck her very soul. She was clad in a black gown of what seemed to be Victorian origin, her mouth set in a line of concern. Beside her, stood the stag. The stag that had visited her previously, his beauty as radiant as ever. And yet, as an effect of all nightmares, the girl was frozen, unable to speak; unable to move. The two women could only watch each other and yet something within Thalia felt at ease around her. There was no fear for her; no striking apprehension. It felt as though Thalia knew the woman her whole life.

“I’m here, Thalia,” the woman said, her voice soothing, motherly and Thalia suddenly felt the urge to cry. Her throat choked up and her eyes glimmered in tears. The woman reached out and drew warm fingers across her cheek, cupping her face. “I will always be here… when you need me.” And as she concluded, the woman and the stag turned, the inkiness of the dark absorbing them into its midst. They disappeared. Briefly, only for a moment, Thalia thought she could see the shimmer of pure black feathers on the woman’s back.

But it must have just been the trick of the light. It must have.

---

She awoke, not uncomfortably against the cold, vacant flooring this time, but on a chair. Her back ached however and her muscles screamed for release. What she would give for some warmth; for some release. The room faded in and out of view, her frigid blue eyes taking a moment to adjust to the light, before they snapped open in terror.

Too much stimulus. Too much to take in.

Her eyes flickered back and forward back and forward, before they rested finally on Phillip. The fear he saw there mirrored her own, and a choke of remorse escaped her throat. Oh god. Oh god, no. Not now. Not here. Her eyes then found Ryan, then… Tristan. A breath, shuddery and frightened, rippled from her; almost a sob. Almost. She couldn’t move, her hands tied firmly behind her; preventing her for reaching out for the only thing that mattered. She began to shake.

“Phillip?” her voice was so small, so quiet. The agony in her once proud face reflected the hours of torture passed through them both. And once again, when they could be together, something just wanted to rip them apart. Her mind drew back to her nightmare; to the woman, clad in black, watching her.

Perhaps her reason for being there was less cryptic that the girl originally believed.

“I’m so sorry,” her voice cried, tremors tearing through her weakened body. She was so frail now; so weak. So far gone. A shadow; a ripple of her former self. “This is all my fault. This is all my fucking fault.” Her arms strained once again against her bounds.

And then she saw the gun in front of him.

And it was like the wind was knocked straight from her. Like the world had heaved its last breath on this forgotten place and hell had truly infested the land. Sickness spreading; demons rearing their foul heads and laughing at them. She stopped shaking, stopped breathing altogether; held in her horror. And she knew immediately from her lover’s expression exactly what he was thinking; what he was pondering over; what he COULDN’T do. What he would prefer to do… to himself.

“Phillip,” she repeated, this time her eyes wide and set in stone. Her face was ghostly white but held together by her own willpower, of which was inevitably going to fail her. “We’re all going to get out of this… I promise you. I promise we will leave this room together and no one has to get hurt. That Tristan doesn’t have to get hurt… Phillip, please, look at me.”

She bit her lip hard, terror, not for her, but for him, pummelling through her lithe form. He was so broken already. He was so gone. She couldn’t let him lose himself.

“You’re going to be okay.”

[Something]

"Naya" couldn't hold herself any longer. This was too hilarious! "Oh, Thalia," she burst into laughter, bending forward and slapping her knee, like a hillbilly. "That was an AMAZING performance, hun," she brushed away the tears of merriment and took a few steps forward, revealing herself to the crowd.

"But let's get down to business, shall we?" with e a cunning smile, she walked around the table and was standing now behind the feisty redhead. She lingered for a moment, the pain in his eyes, before her fingers twitched and she raised her hand…

And tenderly petted Thalia on her head. The other hand was hidden behind her back. "Time to prove yourself, Phillip," she adressed the voiceless man. 

"Sacrifice yourself for the sake of LOVE and save her," she violetly pulled Thalia by her hair, causing her to wince.  "Or kill her and save yourself," she let go of Thalia's hair and took a look on his sleeping brother. Momentally, the girl snapped her fingers making both Tristan and Ryan wake up, so they could "witness" the show. Both young men jumped in their sits in pain, their eyes wide open.

"Do it."

I dare you. Do it. For the sake of "love". Ha ha, silly little boy. 

Haven't you heard that "too much love will kill you". Guess not.

---

[OFF-TOP: you have 2 more posts to make a decision]

[Tristan Pendragon]

Once again he woke up tied ... He would prefer a cold room ground ... First thing he saw is his arm uncover and hurt ... Ah yes he did that ... What he was thinking ... Jamie wouldn't want him to hurt himself ... None as Phil ... "Do it." He raise his head realise he's not alone ... He know this voice ... He saw Thalia with a familliar figure ... Naya ?! What happened to her ?! Last time he saw her ... Feel like a hundread years ago ...And Thalia ... God she seems to go through a lot ... But he's glad to see she's still alive ... Seeing their situation feel like a déjà-vu ... He turn his head "Ryan ! oh god are you're okay ... ?" last time he saw him he wasn't wakening ... He really thought he was dead ... "I was worried sick for you ..." He saw another figure "Phil..." Why does he had to see his brother and his boyfriend again in this situation ? Why ? He saw the gun ... What ... "Phil ..." He start to more freaking out ... What kind of game is that ? Did Jamie die in something like this ? Tears start to come but he try to hold it ... It's not the time ... He need to keep it together ...

[Phillip Pendragon]

Eventually the silence of sleeping people had ended as one by one they started to wake up with Thalia being the first. Fuck. All he could think about now was that he had to be quick to make a decision before anyone could influence him. Of course, just at he had finished his thought it just HAD to be that Thalia woke up, calling his name.

„I´m so sorry.“, she said. „This is all my fault“, she continued. To both he just shook his head. This was nobodys fault. It wasn´t her fault he fell for her and cared for her enough to up his own life for her. Nor was it his fault for having these strong feelings either. As she went on promising how they all would make it, he couldn´t help but laugh sadly, for once raising his head to look at his love. It was obvious to see he was done for. No food nor water but constant room changes and whatnot have gotten the best of him, his face reminding more of a a skeleton, a mere ghost rather than a living being. He wouldn´t make it that much longer anyways.

As if things hadn´t been worse enough, finally the „villain“ revealed itself and much to his horror Naya appeared behind Thalia, daring to touch her. Phillip flashed his teeth at her, ready to use the last bits of energy he had to rip her apart. Just as he was about to use his last reserves though, Naya, or rather what looked like a demon straight out of a horror movie posessing her, told what he had feared right from the start. He had to make a decision. Take his own life and save his lover or take hers to cowardly save his own. Given his state of health there was no doubt for him what to do so he reached for the gun and took it, holding it in his right hand. If his death now at least could save Thalia … there was no point on holding back anymore.

At least that´s what he thought until he heard yet another familiar voice, his brother. Damn it. He shouldn´t be seeing him like that. Their family had caused the younger one way more than enough trauma and he wouldn´t want to cause any more. Yet, in his opinion there wasn´t much of a choice. Turning his attention to his brother he smiled sadly at him, forming the words „I am so sorry little brother and I love you.“ with his lips. Of course though not a sound escaped his mouth. But Phillip would know and he highly hoped Tristan would know too that he truly loved him.

[Thalia Turner]

A screech of laughter echoed off the walls; rattling Thalia’s tired brain. Her eyes fluttered closed for a second, taking it in, allowing a brief moment of calm before the presence of the devil graced them all. A wicked demon; a monster in the guise of another girl. A wolf in sheep’s clothing.

"Oh, Thalia,” the beast spoke, and its icy grip seized her own heart. She met the creature’s deadened gaze with plumes of fire in her eyes. But the fire was fading. The blue was showing behind her gaze; her soul was exposed, as it had been since the very beginning, only the cracks in this doll’s china could no longer be hidden with her rage. Her face fell, defeat pummelling her. "That was an AMAZING performance, hun,"

Performance… Performance. Performance. She always wanted to be an actress. Loathed and internally scathed the ones that found it effortless. She was a brutish actress; too physical like her dancing. Her soul was engrossed but her body was speaking a foreign tongue. She made a great villain, however. Embraced that like she was born for it; her mask of deception carved to perfection. Her eyes found Phillip again; purgatory.

Purgatory. That’s what this was. They were all dead so long as they all survived. The thought brushed an echo of a smile on to Thalia’s face.

"Time to prove yourself, Phillip.”

Purgatory.

"Sacrifice yourself for the sake of LOVE and save her.”

Purgatory.

A hand met her head; the creature’s hand. A tender, cold stroke. Death was toying with them now. It always had. And yet the fear seemed to leave her. Remorse held her hand like a child with its mother, however fear… Fear parted ways with her, like old friends. She was always afraid. Afraid to be herself; to reveal to the world that she wasn’t ruthless, that she had a heart. Afraid to look Phillip in the eye for so long and tell him exactly how much he meant to her; not merely a tool to satiate a ravenous desire for touch and affection.

"Or kill her and save yourself.”

No. No one was saved; no one could ever be saved. In a game of chess, there is only one winner. The clever one. Not the white team, nor the black team. Both sides lay corpses of fallen comrades; both held scars and inner turmoil on the battle field. No, the true winner here was death. The one that controlled them all. Like cat and mouse this creature had them at each other’s throats – the ghost of Nancy’s tie pulsing before her eyes – and countless others in their wake. It had sacrificed nothing for the sake of its fun and games.

A snap of fingers announced Tristan and Ryan’s awakening. Tristan’s tears struck her like daggers to her heart. Of all that deserved this, not him. Never him. He could never watch his brother die; what could that do to a person? Truly? Thalia could never even consider it.

She knew it was coming. The black-clad woman was no guardian; she had been watching over them as soon as they had entered this pandemonium, yes, but she brought them no luck. She only embraced them into the tender night of sleep; eternal night. Angel of Death. Her pale, gentle face could only watch and let fate decide.

And with a kiss I die.

She was never one for pros; nor Shakespeare for that matter. She enjoyed her books, but the poetic language of love was predestined to never grasp the girl. Yet it seemed he had it right all along. Fucking fantastic.

Love is just another strike to one’s soul; but she would never regret loving Phillip for that matter.

He took the gun…

… and a searing pain scathed her scalp as this creature which was once Naya grabbed at a chunk of her hair. She seethed in rage but remained vigilant to it, her eyes locked on to Phillip’s as they always should have.

“Phillip,” her voice was hoarse once more, the tears finally flooding her eyes. She took a breath before they finally let go. Let go for him.

“Look at your brother. Look at him. You can’t leave him; you know you can’t. He needs you, Phillip. You know what you have to do but your goddamn pride won’t let you. If you die…”

Thalia sobbed, and she shook her head viciously.

She couldn’t consider it, would never even want to. It was selfish of her, but Thalia had no one. No one left. No friends, no one to be there for her. She was a vacant spirit; an expendable piece of this chess game. Phillip had a family, had a future. If there was some slight possibility that he could make it out alive she would do that for him. It wasn’t for a lack of self-preservation; the girl did not have a lust for her own death. But playing in a game of chess, one had to be clever. One had to be cleverer than the cleverest of all.

“If you die you don’t love me; you don’t love him. If you kill yourself all you’re being is selfish, Phillip Pendragon. And I will never forgive you for leaving Tristan all alone. YOU pull that trigger on yourself and you may as well have killed me anyway.”

She began to shake, an overwhelming feeling of nausea rising bile to her throat. She persisted with the cruelty. That’s all she was good at; being a villain; being cruel. Even if it destroyed her. It wasn’t his time. It wasn’t his time.

"Do it,” The creature growled at him.

This wasn’t about fucking love. This was never about making a choice. Death had her hand on Thalia’s hair; she had already made her choice.

Purgatory.

Purgatory.

Purgatory.



Had to be clever. Had to be clever.

“Oh, shut your fucking mouth you disgusting bitch,” Thalia snarled at Naya, at the monster. Thalia smiled harshly, twisting herself to meet its deadened gaze. She let the smile fill her up, let it take hold of her. She was going to damn herself. She was going to do it for him; it was always for him.

She grinned coldly, then spat at Naya, a look of vicious pride swelling into her. She growled and bared her teeth.

“You’re such a child; so lustful for your own self-importance. And you know what? I genuinely feel sorry for you. Is this to prove he doesn’t love me? That I don’t love him? Then you’ve completely missed the point of love, /hun/. Love is an ethereal, celestial presence. It lingers in all life; in all of us. Perhaps it used to flow from you too…” She paused, her eyes tightening. She was so desperate; she was so lost. But it was for him. Always.

“I believe it did, no matter what you say. Love isn’t a game and you can’t control it. I will love him if he points that gun and shoots me dead; I will love him if the life is dripping from my body. I will love him because I love him. And you, nor your games will ever change that.”

[Tristan Pendragon]

"N-no ... Phil no ... Please don't do this ..." He try to pull on the attachment, he only manage to hurt himself a little more ... Tears run again on his face, why does everybody he love had to die ? “Phillip,look at your brother. Look at him. You can’t leave him; you know you can’t. He needs you, Phillip. You know what you have to do but your goddamn pride won’t let you. If you die…If you die you don’t love me; you don’t love him. If you kill yourself all you’re being is selfish, Phillip Pendragon. And I will never forgive you for leaving Tristan all alone. YOU pull that trigger on yourself and you may as well have killed me anyway." He look at Thalia ... He never saw her like that, she always had this armor. She's always look like nothing could hurt her ... But she was nice with him, he can't said they are friend they never really spook. But she never said anything hurtful to him, unless a lot of other student ... Or his own parents ... Her speech make him understand more the situation ... Even if he thought he knew what it was about ... Phillip told him he loved Thalia ... He bite his lips ... Look at Ryan ... If he was in the situation ... He would do the same ... Sacrifice himself ... Can he really blame Phillip for choosing this ? He understand but ... He already loose Jamie ... He can't loose him to ... He look at Thalia ... But she doesn't deserv to die ... He look at his damaged arm ...

"ısn'ʇ ʍɥɐʇ ʎon ʍɐnʇǝd ?"

Can the rule be broken ? Why did Naya bring him and Ryan ? Well for himself it's pretty clear, he's Phillip brother ... Naya or the thing who seems inside her certainly enjoy this situation ... But Ryan had nothing to do with Thalia ... He's new Phil but ... It don't make real sense ... He need to think ... Nor Thalia or Phil deserv to die ... He's really tempt to ask to his brother to shoot him instead ... But it didn't assure Thalia'll be safe ... And he know ...Phil'll never do that ... He raise his head down, silently crying ... Why can't he help anybody. He look again at his brother ... Maybe it's the last time ... They lost so many time ... Phil staying away from him ...and him stop trying to get close ... And then, being ashamed, don't knowing how to react with him ... Never tell him his secret, to afraid to loose him after finally getting his attention ... His affection ... He's so grateful for everything Phil did for him this past few years ... "I love you too ...I'll keep my promess ..." he said softly to his brother ...

[Something]

Awh. How adorable.

If both of her hands were free at the moment, she would give Thalia some petty applause. "And I will never forgive you for leaving Tristan all alone. You pull that trigger on yourself and you may as well have killed me anyway," the fearless redhead has finally finished her mouthful of big words - but still at the same time quite reasonable - speech.

"She's got a point though," Naya said inwardly and gave a small snarky chuckle. I couldn't say it better myself! Oh, the irony!

Next moment the dumbass woman dared to snarl like a wild trapped lioness in her direction. "Naya" furrowed her eyebrows in disgust while the woman kept spouting words.

Words. Words, words, words.
Meaningless words.

"Love is an ethereal, celestial presence. It lingers in all life; in all of us. Perhaps it used to flow from you too…" And like that the mind's flow has stopped...



Oh, no! Too early! Here she goes again!

"I will love him if the life is dripping from my body. I will love him because I love him. And you, nor your games will ever change that," the girl rolled her eyes in amusement. After a short pause, "Naya" has finally spoken up again.

"Feel better now? Good. Now let's get done with this bullshit," the creature snapped the fingers on her free hand and Thalia could feel how her throat tightened, so she could barely breathe, not to mention speak.

"I give you one last warning, Phillip Pendragon," the raven-head's low voice echoed from the walls of the auditorium, "If you not going to pick up this gun and do as I say..." she paused, let out yet another sharp chuckle and snapped her fingers once more.

Thalia's head lunged down at the table, free from "Naya's" invisible embrace, while the blondie's face turned unnaturally red. Seconds later Ryan couldn't help himself but start screaming, as the unknown force was pulling his eyes out off his skull. Not being able to endure the pain any longer, the blond young man fell onto the table face forward, bleeding out of his now empty eye-sockets. A pair of bloody eyes with the nerves attached to them were laying down on the table right beside him.

"YOU WILL SHARE HIS FATE! You two have been messing my plans FOR FAR TOO LONG!" she snarled back at them, her eyes burning with hatred, "Your love is nothing but an illusion you two came up just for fun! You all are nothing but a list of traits and pretty facade. YOU brought it upon yourself. You wanted it! Nobody has forced you into this! And now no matter what I WILL follow what I'm designed to do!"

"̷̺̤̺̭̳̼͈̗̰ͤ̄͂͑͌ͮ͗ͫ̉̊ͮ̑̓̀͜͜D̸ͯ̊̏ͦ̂̅̆ͯ͐͟͝҉̮̟͙̹͍̜̘̖̝Ò̵̷̢͎̘͕̣̥͖̗̠ͫ̏̔ͥ͗ͯ̌ͥ̄̇̔̿͆ͦ̓̽͑͡ ̴̨̱̼͚̪̩͇̮̩̪̓́ͪ͗̀ͮ͘͞Í̡͖̯̳̖̯͎̗͉͍̤̲̤̗̦̬̩͒͗͌̂̎́̍͋̇̃ͨ̏ͧ̉͆͋͝͝ͅT̶̨͕͍͈̟̤̳͔͑ͪ̆̆̓̎̾ͯ̀ͣͫ̆ͫ͛͡͠ͅ!̶̢͚̜̰͕̯͓̔̆̒̉̍̾́̚͞"̝͇̺̫̳͚̹̈̓̌̏̾ͧͥ̉͛̃̏͟

---

- you have 1 posts to make the decision;

- Ryan has died due to pain shook.

[Phillip Pendragon]

Phillip was ready to die, ready to give his own life for the mere hope of a fullfilled saying to save Thalias life. Just as he was about to pull the trigger though, his lover spoke up again, made him pause and look at her as she was holding her monologe and as she did, his heart crumbled into pieces. Not only could he see what act she was about to play as her tears started to flood her face but he could also feel it, sense how she put on the role as the „villain“ in the desperate try to change his mind. He had to admit, she did have quite some points.



Listening to his surroundings, he put the gun back on the table, moving his head almost all the time back and forth between Thalia, Tristan and Naya. “Look at your brother. Look at him. You can’t leave him; you know you can’t. He needs you, Phillip. You know what you have to do but your goddamn pride won’t let you. If you die…” She was right, his brother needed him. Now probably more than ever but what could he even do for him in the first place? He was too weak to fight, too exhausted to think straight and too lost to give him the hope he would need so much. His pride on the other hand was long gone to begin with. If he had to die, fine. If it had to be in the most gruesome way, fine as well. He had given up on himself the moment he had seen the gun in front of him if not earlier. The very only thing that mattered for him were Thalia and Tristan and until his last breath he would use all what he got left to find a solution, to try to be smarter, to try to save at least them.



Then Thalia continued, breaking his heart over and over again as she continued. He knew her words were honest, at least at parts. Yet he also knew she was just saying them to try to convince him, keep him from giving his own life. If only he could hold her, talk to her, give her the strength and love she would not only need but furthermore deserve. There has been a reason he had never been truly in love with anyone but her to begin with and seeing her act the way she did only that she was more than one of a kind. She was a fierce berserk with the gentle heart playfull heart of a kitten and if she had set her mind onto something, there was nothing that could stop her. Not a Naya, not even the threat of death and even though that was one of the many reasons he loved her, it tore him apart at the same time.



He just couldn´t endure how she challenged Naya, dooming herself even more if that was even possible given the situation they got in in the first place. How much he wished to talk back to her, yell at her to stop the act and just once let him do something for her.



Yet what killed him the most were her last words as he could feel the honesty in ever single letter she spoke. He knew she loved him, more than her own life, just as he loved her. He knew even if he actively killed her, she would forgive him, even be happy as then he at least would survive. He knew everything she was doing now she did for him and him only. However also she must have known that he would have done the very same if he was in her place.



Gripping hard onto the gun until his hand started to cramp, eventually he as well couldn´t hold back his tears anymore. Just what should he do? He could never shoot Thalia. Ever. Even if he would aim at a non lethal part, would that count in the first place? Not to mention that he wasnt at all a skilled shooter and even if she was positioned close the chance for him to miss and kill her instantly if not also painfully was far too high. So there were only two choices left. Shoot himself or refuse and do nothing.



Just as he had thought to be close to make a decision though, the monster put herself back into action, making not only Thalia unable to speak another word but also caused Ryans death. By far Phillip had no idea how it had happened but he was sure that it was more than likely to happen again and just as the thought had finished in his head indeed he got the confirmation, the threat of him suffering the same fade if he wouldn´t decide, if he wouldn´t kill.



The moment the monster herself started a monologe of her own however, his tears immediately ended and rage and hatred evolved in him, painting his pale face red in fury. So their love was nothing but an illusion huh? Bullshit. They were nothing but pretty faces and a list or traits? Nonsense. They had brought it on themselves? Ridiculous. They haven´t been forced into this kill or die? They WANTED this? Ludicrous!



They haven´t picked to fall in love to begin with and neither with each other. Hell there would have been dozens of possibilities for a match with either of them with several other people. Yet it did happen and he was happy for it, happy to have found true love, happy to have spend the time he had with Thalia and not god knew who. The very only thing he was regretting was how it all had to end, that it had to end before their relationship as a couple could really bloom to begin with, that they had been forced into this insane game of bullshit.



Facing the monster he growled, looking for once very closely at her. Indeed it wasn´t a human anymore. Nothing but a mere hint of a person that once had a caring, a living soul. All that had stayed was a body with a disfigured face of a true monster, a simple doll of evil, and just as any doll he could remember, they came with accessoirize. Or at least that was what his brain was telling him. Why else had she never left Thalias side? Why else did she stay in almost the same position, never turning or even only shifting? Why else was he only ever able to see one of her hands?



It may just have been him going insane but he didn´t trust the monster at all. Something was foul. Looking back at the gun, he began to wonder once again. What if there was a at first blank? What if there wasn´t? What if it was fully loaded? What if it was completely empty?



What if he shot himself? Would he die? Would it only cause the chain reaction of the monster messing with him and killing Thalia instead of himself? Would it do neither and leave them be as he had proven his love to be real?



What if he killed neither of them? Would they both face a gruesome death with eyes being pulled out if not something even more painfull? Would both be free? Would Tristan have to pay the price and die instead?



He just couldn´t decide. Phillip was willing, he was ready to give his own life right away. But the unanswerd questions, the doubt made him hold still, hanging onto the gun. They were both doomed, Thalia as well as himself. He could feel it deep in his bones. Given his luck they would die either way. But if they had to die, why not together? Maybe it indeed wasn´t the decision of who had to die but rather HOW they had to die?

Looking back at Ryan´s corpse, remembering the horror of his just happened death, Phillip raised the gun up to his head once again. He was a coward, always had been. He was so tired, tired of the torture, tired of the thinking, tired of the responsibility. What use would it be to have him die painfully and slowly when he could do it quickly, without even causing any pain. Not to mention that given earlier experiences it seemed to rather be a wise thing to listen to others demands. His brother would be traumatized either way as there was no way Phillip would make it out of this alive.



But then again what if there was a way? What if he could still be of use? For Thalia, for Tristan, for anyone? Just what should he do? Shoot? Don´t shoot? He just couldn´t decide. He didn´t WANT to decide. He was sick of these “games”. Sick of the pain that was aching through all of his body every single second he looked at Thalia. All he wanted to do, all he was keen on was to be there fore her. Slowly putting the gun back down on the table his tendency to do “nothing” just kept on growing. If they had to die anyways, then they would fucking do it together. He wouldn´t leave her alone for this. Not ever would he leave her again. Tristan was his family, his heart that kept the blood in his vains bumping. But Thalia, she was his soul. She was what made him a human and not just a living corpse, a zombie only existing to work and please.



So he lifted his arm again, ready to throw the gun away, preparing himself to die gruesome with her. Yet he couldn´t. He couldn´t just do “nothing”. What if that exact action would cause both of their death while doing as the monster demanded would at least one of them? He was a coward, a fucking coward to the very end. He couldn´r risk it. If there had to be a death, it must be him. No negotiation. He knew Thalia could survive. She was fit enough, she could handle the pain and heartbreak, she could live on without him, she could find love and happiness again, she could be there for his Tristan when he can´t anymore.



Finally Phillip had made his decision. With a shaking hand, he raised the gun back up against his temple, all whilst looking at Thalia before for one last time he faced his brother, smiling at him sadly. He didn´t want this. He didn´t want Tristan to loose yet another one. He hated the thought of leaving him alone. But he knew he could never forgive himself if he didn´t even try to save Thalia. So he took one last breath and moved his head for the last time, looking at his love for the last time, forming the words “Please forgive me my love” and then ...



... he pulled the trigger to shot himself.

[Something]

You pull that trigger on yourself and you may as well have killed me anyway. On yourself - killed me anyway. Yourself - killed me.

“Please forgive me, my love," he whispered with his lips and heard a loud thundering bang. Blood splattered all over the table, fusing with the blood that flowed out of Ryan's body. Silence hang out in the air for a moment, while Thalia was staring back at Philip...

...with a bullet hole right between her eyes. Phillip wasn't touched by a bullet by sheer luck since he was sitting right in front of Thalia this whole time. "Naya" was holding a magnum revolver in her right hand, her left hand held Thalia's head by her hair, not letting her fall down.

"Wise choice," she whispered with her lips and let out a soft chuckle. The monster let go of Thalia's head and let it fall down on the table with a big whack. "Naya" placed the gun on the table right beside Thalia's head and took a few steps back into the darkness.

Her figure glitched and distorted until the point in completely got fused with the darkness of the backstage. Shortly after both brothers have fallen asleep, familiar white noise whispering in their ears.