VLDR - Shut Up and Dance

[Chemist1422]

“A-Are we? Wh-what if we d-don’t?”

[Hawkwing425]

We takin' th' Ark too? Not sure how we'd lug th' thing back t' th' motel... but why leave it?

[Arcthurus]

You hear the distant sound of police sirens. Looks like your time is running out.

The woman stares at you four one by one, then at the Ark. She gets up.

"...Sure... Okay... What do I have to lose..."

[Hawkwing425]

Shit. I don't think we have time t' grab th' thing. Let's just take her an' run.

[Arckas]

I'll take the girl, you two take the Arc. Eliza will run defense.

[Hawkwing425]

That Ark's covered in glass. You grab it, 'cause you can smash it with your sledgehammer. If th' glass isn't sledgehammer-proof.

[Arcthurus]

"Thou must."

Azelf and Belladona lead the frail woman upstairs, Ivy and Elizabeth carrying the Ark as fast as they can manage.

The four book it out of the storehouse, they're now outside. The sirens are very close, no doubt there are guards already in the warehouse complex.



The guards split up, but all follow a strict rule when patrolling: they turn right or left at every intersection. They will also never walk backwards or turn around.
Their patrol begins from the entrance marked by an arrow.

To escape, find the one of the seven exits they will never reach.

[Hawkwing425]

Exit B! I think that's th' only one!

[Arcthurus]

The five take exit B. You manage to outrun the police and book it through the Miami streets, back to the Motel.

When you arrive at the lobby, you find it empty. There is not a single soul here.

...

[Hawkwing425]

Belladonna stops to catch her breath.
H-holy... fuck...

[Arcthurus]

Tires screech. A van arrives outside, and multiple people come out from it.

A group of four masked individuals now blocks the exit. Their masks are of different animals, their clothes are mostly black and white. You find yourself at the uncomfortable end of their pistols, the woman being the only one not aimed at.

[Chemist1422]

“...I c-c-can’t b-believe w-w-we just d-did th-that...”

[Chemist1422]

“N-N-N-N-No...”

[Hawkwing425]

Oh, what th' fuck do YOU people want?!

[Arcthurus]

"Good evening."

"Richard thanks you for your service."

"You've been having a good week, I hope."

"Alright. Let's get this over with."

You feel an impact against your head -- a bullet that hits right on -- as the world cuts to black, giving you no time to process the pain.

[Do not post.]

[Arcthurus]

You find yourself standing amidst a black void. Your head feels odd. A single dirty armchair is the only object in the dark. Sitting on it is a masked character, under the yellow spotlight.

"Ah, there you are. Looks like it's only you and me left now. I'm sure you know by now, that this won't end well. And soon you will be all alone. But that's okay."

"Before we say goodbye, I'll let you in on a secret... What you do from here on, will serve a greater purpose than you can imagine. And yet, you will never see the whole picture."

"But don't worry, someone else will. Someone who has learned from this, and who will one day learn more. Someone who is listening to us, right now."

"Now it's time for you to leave. There's a warm bed across the hall from here... And you look like you could use some rest."

The apartment door opens. Your head now hurts. You leave through the exit, and through the motel's long hallway, towards a single open entrance at the end. There is a white light coming from the inside. For what feels like your whole life, you walk, sprint, run, and finally arriving at the location of the light. What you see blows your mind.

Before you is your own body, injured and bandaged on a medical cot, as a nurse looks over you.

You collapse on your knees. The pressure on your head has builds up even faster, until it simply explodes, painting the whole room red, with bits and pieces of splattered grey mass sticked to walls and corners. You fall down on the floor.

Soon, you will wake up again.

[Arcthurus]

You open your eyes.

You are at a hospital bed -- a wide shared room. The IV serum drips, machines beep, and your head has been wrapped up in bandages. You try to move but the world does not stay still.

There is a man standing in the center of the room. He rubs his chin, absentmindedly. His gaze is serious, but not threatening.

You know him. He was everywhere in your dreams.

"Oh, good. You're finally awake. How are you feeling?"

[Arcthurus]

[You can post.]

"Two months. Two whole months. That is how long you have been in coma. It's a miracle that you four lived, and that you've woke up at all. Welcome to January 1st of 1990, friends. I made sure they gave you proper care and pulled strings to keep everything that happened in those three days under the rug. My name... You may call me Ace."

[Chemist1422]

“It’s o-over? Th-That’s i-it?”

[Arckas]

W-what happened?

[Hawkwing425]

...how th' fuck am I even alive.

[Arcthurus]

"You were tricked. Richard was never going to give the freedom you hoped for. He is nothing but a liar, a turncoat, and a psychopath who enjoys his games far too much. Something we have far enough of in this world. He betrayed my trust, and my group, just as he betrayed you."

Ace crosses his arms and paces around the room.

"You gave him exactly what he wanted. A weapon and a hostage. Neither of those should be in his hands. The news obviously wouldn't report on it-- it's a government secret. But no doubt they will suspect the russians of fowl play. Just when the cold war... Well. We might be looking at World War 3 soon. Furthermore, you will not be able to escape him again. I protected you as long as I could. If he learns how sloppy the cronies' job was, he will come after you."

Ace halts.

"What I want is the Ark, and that girl. What you want, I assume, is being able to live without having Richard to worry about. So... I believe we can reach a pretty sweet deal."

"If Richard were out of the picture, and those two could be retrieved, then I could hold up my end of the bargain. I'll make sure the world doesn't blow over, and that you four can have a peaceful life if you so wish."

"How does that sound?"

[Chemist1422]

“...what do you w-want them for?”

[Hawkwing425]

I mean, I was already plannin' t' kill Richard. Goin' t' have t' get my physical abilities back in order, though. Should recover fairly quickly, but it's not like I can go out an' run at him this evenin'.

[Schultz128]

We weren't tricked. We just had no other option. Learn the difference.