The sound of footsteps echoed within the walls of the Hallway as Zon retreated from the third floor.
Dollina and Goliath were left to their thoughts, Bryan wincing in pain on the ground while Paxton rested on the wall and watched the event unfold.
'Everything has occurred just as I planned it to' He thought to himself, his gaze drifting to Dollina. 'I have a sense of how everyone in this room would act in times of panic….and I must say, they're just as level-headed as I expected'.
The deed had been done, four people were dead, and the killer had not been found.
The group could point fingers, but would they do that when the evidence had been so well showcased?
'Well, only time will tell….'.
His gaze drifted to Bryan, who was still wincing from the pain of the stab wound.
'....and speaking of time, we need to get our plans rolling for our last target'.
How did these two, who seemed like an opposite pair, come together and start off a killing spree plan? Well, that all started from the waiting room a long time ago.
Paxton had told the others that he had preferred to stay last first, not because he didn't trust them, but because he had figured out who the killer was.
FLASHBACK.
As Kenhi and Jonn walked away from the room, Bryan prepared to do the same, a tense expression on his face.
"Let's go"
Paxton said, walking away from the wall while Bryan sighed and followed after him.
He was suddenly halted in his tracks when Paxton stopped in front of the door, his gaze fixed on Bryan's as a tense silence ensued.
"You realize I know you like a book, Bryan".
Paxton had always been an observant individual. He was always at the back of the class and outsmarted his peers when it came down to it.
There was a reason why bullies tended to avoid him: simply because of his unpredictable nature.
"What do you mean?" Bryan asked, a nervous chuckle escaping his lips.
"Don't act coy with me, Bryan. You know how pathetic you are when it comes to lying".
"And how about you?! You're the one who lied to them! Is your name even Zachary?!" Bryan cried out, his fear dripped in the tone of his voice as his gaze flickered.
A smirk formed on Paxton's lips as he turned around. "That's what I'm talking about. You're the killer aren't you?"
Bryan froze, his gaze widening in shock as they locked on Paxton's unreadable ones.
It took a moment to reply, his tone laced with hesitation as he looked away.
"Are you going to tell the others?" He asked.
Paxton scoffed. "Tell the others? Don't be a fool, there's no fun in that"
Bryan narrowed his gaze in confusion, snapping his head towards Paxton.
"Wouldn't it be easier if you just hand me over?"
"Easier, yes, but fun? No. Let's have fun, yes? Or are you scared of killing people?"
Bryan felt a pulse permeate his body, his breath easing out. He could claim that Paxton was a classmate and a friend of sorts, but he never truly understood him.
'Was he….was he always this way?'.
He wondered. Though he hesitated, the longing for survival snapped him out of it.
"Is this a partnership?"
Paxton smirked as he nodded and stretched his hand out. "Yes, it is…".
He replied. "Now, we'll have to tell each other our rules and show our blueprints….because once we go through that door. There is no hope of me saving you without a plan".
Bryan nodded, as they shook hands.
"Wouldn't they notice we took our time before coming out?"
"And? No one knows who the killer is….we're all a suspect until proven guilty. They wouldn't suspect you anyways, and it'll be too late by the time they do".
With a nod, the two concocted their plans, ready to turn the game in their favour.
FLASHBACKEND.
Bryan groaned lightly, his arm held firmly on the knife.
'If I pull it out, it'll make me bleed to death but there's a limit to how much I can endure this…'
He turned to Paxton, who nodded his head.
"Shall we go search for him? He shouldn't have gone far, this Mansion doesn't have an escape route".
Dollina and Goliath glanced at him in unison, both sighing as they headed for the stairway.
They had each other now, or at least that's what they assumed since the killer had been found.
Paxton turned to Bryan.
"Wait in a room. We don't want you losing more blood or getting killed by Ferralo".
Paxton walked away after that, leaving Bryan to his thoughts as well as his inner turmoil. In the end, he killed people, not animals, not insects, but people. Be it for his survival or not, he murdered.
With a pained sigh, he looked up at the ceiling.
'Yet, why do I feel so….good?'
*****
The group of four explored the rest of the room within the time limit and yet were unable to find Ferralo.
Zon was at his wit's end as he walked with Paxton out of their last room.
"There, all fifty-seven rooms, explored".
Zon chuckled. "It's funny how a mansion has so many rooms".
Paxton glanced at him, shrugging off his shoulders as they walked down the hallway.
"Do you find this strange? What of the planet we landed on in the first test".
"...now that you mention it, are we perhaps in a world lost?"
"Who knows? The Pixefication left many questions unanswered, and scientists haven't been able to explain it to date. As much as I'm concerned, this whole thing is a mess".
Just then, two pairs of footsteps echoed as two familiar figures revealed themselves.
They walked out of the stairway, their gazes landing on Paxton and Zon.
"The both of you seem perfectly lax" Goliath commented, his tone cracked and hoarse.
"Yes, it must be nice to be you in a situation like this". Dollina teased as they continued down the stairs to the ground floor.
"I don't know about the kid, but situations like this are just the reality of life. Death and life are separated by a single thread…no need to get sentimental when we never knew them personally".
Zon replied, his tone even and disengaged. It was obvious he couldn't care less about their circumstance, and Paxton had to admit, he was intrigued.
"You have a point". He commented as they got to the centre room, Goliath turning to the clock.
"Seven more minutes to go…"
"And still no signs of Ferralo. Did he use the hidden rooms?" Dollina wondered.
'Most likely not…he's just hiding in one of the rooms…which Bryan should locate at any minute now'.
Bryan was injured, yes, but it wasn't a fatal wound.
Paxton knew Bryan as someone who wore his emotions but yet was extremely intelligent.
Both of his parents were doctors, and he would have gone for the same profession if things had gone as they should.
'He avoided a major artery or vein, so he should be fine…'
How he did that in a short period and on the side of his stomach no less, he wondered.
"Where's Bryan?" Dollina asked, her tone laced with worry as they looked around in confusion.
They searched the room to no avail, Zon turning to Paxton.
"Zachary, where is he?"
"I asked him to stay in a room just to be safe…one we've checked already"
He replied innocently, shrugging off the statement.
The others widened their gazes at his statement, and the next sound that erupted in their ears seemed to have sealed the deal.
BANG!
Zon and Dollina looked up, while Goliath groaned in annoyance.
"A gunshot?" Zon muttered.
"Oh no, Bryan". Dollina rushed off in an instant, Paxton rushing after her while the others trailed behind.
"What were you thinking, Zachary? He could get attacked even still!" Zon cried out in annoyance, his thoughts reeling in.
'Perhaps I gave the bastard too much credit, he is just as careless as his age presumes'.
While they worried, Paxton inwardly chuckled in excitement.
'Hah….the finale'.
Soon, the group reached the third floor, where the sound had erupted from, and the image of Ferralo backing them with his loaded gun came into view.
"Ferralo you bastard!" Goliath cried out as he attempted to charge at him, but Zon suddenly pulled him back, pushing him away as Ferralo snapped to his back and shot out his barrel.
BANG!
The sound erupted as the group dispersed, jumping into opposite rooms just in time.
"Yo–You crazy bastards, I am not the killer!"
He pulled up his barrel, his gaze fierce with rage as he reloaded it and aimed it at the doors.
"But if you dare come near me, then I will shoot your bloody ass!"