Inside an indoor balcony with the size a living room that hung from the wall, supported by two pillars and a wall. A door opened up. From that door, walked four men. Sythrik, Caius, Johann, and the worker, guiding them in with utmost care and respect.
"Here is your seats gentlemen. Atop that table is food u can eat, pick whatever u wish as it is a part of your seat." The young worker said while gesturing toward a table with a sofa facing the theater's point of action. The table was a little behind to store candy, fruit and even vegetables. "There are personnel stationed behind the door at all times. If there is something u want or need, either tap the door thrice or go out and ask. That is all there is to know, enjoy the show and please tell if you're uncomfortable!"
The man turned and stepped outside after having gently opened the wooden door. The trio walked around the room-like balcony, observing this luxurious moment, etching into their very brain. Suddenly, the door opened once more! It was the same worker as before, the young black-haired man that wore a black and white suit. He leaned in, not wanting to invade due to the rules placed on the workers!
"I just came to say, due to me forgetting it before I left earlier, that the show will start in three minutes. So I recommend you prepare yourselves for the most renowned actress in the whole of Lorath. I have to get back to my station, I hope you enjoy yourselves, bye!" The young man said, clearly in a rush.
As soon as the door closed, Caius found himself chuckling, then said with a gentle smile, "I'll go ahead. You two take your times and pick out whatever you want, there are some times meant for greed and gluttony. That time is this one."
The duo nodded as he went to sit on the sofa pointe towards the stage. His small, slightly chubby frame seemed frailer than ever.
Sythrik looked at him for a while before ultimately pointing his gaze toward the wooden table, stuffed with foods of all kinds. Sythrik found himself looking away, still full from the dinner with Sennan. Thus, only Johann found himself grabbing hold of a chocolate bar.
Sythrik walked over to the reddish sofa, clad in golden edges and balls of gold on each end. "So then, are you a big fan of this actress?" He asked Caius as he sat down on the other end of the red sofa.
Caius rubbed his hand against the sofa's fabric and enjoyed the luxurious sensation. He smiled and looked at Sythrik as he calmly said, "I don't know. This is my first time attending one of her shows, thus I can't say for sure if I like her or not.
"However, I fear that I will enjoy this even if it were to be horrid." Caius smiled and lean back, closing his eyes and took in a good breath to then release right after.
Sythrik stared at his unusual behavior, then he asked, "why do you find the show so enjoyable despite the possible disappointment? Is just seeing her enough?"
Caius opened his eyes, kept his leaned position in tact and spoke with a gentle tone that resembled a calm joy, "I don't know her, only about her. How could I find myself joyful in her presence? She's an actor and I am audience. Its not her that makes me full of joy, she simply assembles it."
"Assembles it?" Sythrik asked, puzzled by the old man's weird ramblings.
"Are you interested in her?" Caius said out of nowhere, turning Sythrik's face beat red! "I don't even know her!
"... But, if you're talking about performance wise, then I have no idea. Its my first time after all."
Caius chuckled and said, "let me ask another question then... Do you enjoy being here?"
"Pardon?" Sythrik caressed the sofa's edge and asked in surprise. Caius however, simply sat there, waiting for an answer. Thus, Sythrik relented and though for a moment, gazing toward the large theater room, the stage, the countless people beneath them, and soon the actress. His thoughts went unmoved by each sight, nothing truly extravagant sat in his line of sight... "I'm not sure." Sythrik turned to Caius and paused for a moment!
"I looked the wrong way, huh? Is that it? Was that the lesson you wanted to teach me?" Sythrik leaned forward, resting his cheeks on his hands and said, "you're really unpredictable, mentor."
Caius chuckled, wiped a tear beneath his right eye and spoke, "I guess so, haha... As you've already deduced, the true value of this event is not the event itself, as that is but a familiar stranger. However, those that accompany you throughout the event, your friends, those are the true moment.
"Fixate on a world beyond your grasp will only lead to the loss of your own. Narrow your view, remain ignorant of what lies beyond and live without question. That is my final philosophy!"
Sythrik gazed at the man in front of him, revealing a newfound shock that stemmed from past teachings. "Did you not teach us the opposite? To widen our views and answer the question that view gives?" Caius simply lifted his finger to gain more attention from him and said, "I did, and I did it wrong. The biggest and most significant question we philosophers question is the meaning of life, which is also the most insignificant question."
Before the conversation could escalate further, the lights around them dimmed, and the stage opened as the red curtain split to each side. A bright golden light suddenly shot onto the stage, revealing the honored actress!
A sudden change of volume occurred as the audience started cheering and clapping, praising her in songs of turmoil and noise.
The actress clapped her hands twice to quell the constant chattering and spoke with an almost eerie voice, "my name is Imelda Lucienne, and today I we will act out a brand new play, written by Charlotte Esmerett.
"It is quite unlike the previous ones that I usually play-romance, tragedy, and historical events. This one is more.. Dark." Imelda turned around, her pitch black hair that swung down her spine moved like water with each turn. Her pale face that once faced the crowd seemed was out of view and her black doll-like dress neatly covered her small, frail frame.
"We will begin in one minute, please be patient." She mused, her cold tone echoed the room alongside her powerful steps.
As soon as Imelda had exited the stage's spot light, did Johann jump over and onto the sofa, then asked with a stressful tone, "did I miss something!?" Sythrik and Caius looked at each other and burst into laughter, watching Johann eat the chocolate simplemindedly. "Nothing of importance, but remain seated, it will start soon." Sythrik said as the stage's curtains fully closed once more. "I see.. What a relief!" Johann relaxed and leaned back, waiting for the theater quietly in the middle of his of two cherished companions.
...
Two minutes went by, the lights lost their light, and the curtains gradually opened up as a light shone onto the stage's center. To their surprise, they were not met with Imelda, but rather a man that was tied to a chair.
"I see why she said it would be dark!" Sythrik spoke in a hushed tone.
The three kept observing quietly, hearing struggled shouts, covered by tape from the man's mouth. He was relatively average! A medium frame, black unruly hair, dark eyes, white rugged shirt, black tattered pants, no shoes, wounds, bruises, he was the epitome of a hostage!
Suddenly, a man stepped up from behind, enveloped in a shadowed hood. He bore a bloodied knife and a psychotic grin. He grabbed the tied up man without notice, forcing a sudden, short scream and a rough shiver! He leaned in toward the hostage's ear and prepared to whisper, however, as soon as he spoke, only a loud yell was heard. It was sudden, unexpected, wicked, and psychotic. Thus, a marvel spread across the audience!
"So then, mister tied! Do you know where you are, or why you are here?" The man in shadows asked while pacing back and forth. The hostage tried his hardest to answer but the tape rendered him useless. He wiggled around in hope to loosen himself, and licked the tape from the inside, desperate to speak and plead, beg and apologies for actions he did not remember doing... "Oh right! You're quite the mute at the moment. How could I forget such a fact, silly me!!!" The man said jokingly.
He walked up behind the man, reached out one of his hands and put the edge of the tape between two of his fingers. He waited a moment, then a little longer, and even more. As soon as the hostage left his guard down, the man in shadows ripped it off violently, making the man scream uncontrollably! "AGHHHHH!!!"
As the hostage panted, the sadistic mysterious individual laughed crazily. After a second of mockingly laughing at the hostage, did he say, "so then, when am I getting my well earned apology?" Caressing the man's shoulder with his fingertips.
"I'm sorry, please forgive me!" The man pleaded out of fear.
"Mean it!" The sadist yelled into his ear.
"I'm sorry, please forgive me!!! Even if I dont deserve to leave, please be merciful! Whatever it is you want, whatever I can do to make up for what I've done I'll do it!!! Please tell me!"
"Sorry for what?" He stopped caressing the hostage's shoulder and listened with a grin.
The atmosphere turned quiet for a moment, sweat and tears ran from the hostage's face and dripped countlessly on the floor.
"What is it that you so sorry for?" His voice darkened and turned more solemn. The hostage stuttered as mustered up the courage to speak, "I-I d-don't know..."
"What was that? Can you say that one more time, but louder?" The man kept musing.
"I-I don't know! Please just let me live, I will do anything you ask! Just.. Please, please let me live..." The man's words were slowly being drained of hope as they turned more defenseless.
The sadist leaned in forcefully and shook the wooden chair in the process! "Blah, blah, blah. Who ever said something about returning alive? All I wanted was an apology, and that I got!" He pushed the hostage down, now facing each other. The hostage looked up after squirming around a little, only to see himself! It was as if though he looked into a mirror, a mirror that had changed his clothing, as this other "him" wore a black dress. He didn't wear a necktie, or anything to formal. A simple, black dress.
"W-Who are you?!" The hostage said while laying on the ground, squiring as he found himself in an uncomfortable position.
"Me? Hmm... If I had to say, I would describe myself as your greatest fear!" He said sadistically. Before the hostage could react in any way, did he already have a gun in hand, pointed down towards the hostage! "I've gotten what I've came for, see you later." He mused. He pulled the trigger slowly to torment the poor hostage. Then, when it finally reached it's climax, did only a simple "click" sound aloud. An empty round!
Before the hostage could reveal his joy and hope, the sadistic kidnapper said, "I almost forgot! I've yet to introduce myself haven't I!!!"
He pointed the gun at the hostage once more, put his finger on the trigger, smiled and said, "my name is Richard Golemn!"...
The hostage stared him in the eye and said, "but that's my name..."
"pang!" The bullet shot, forming a hole in the unfortunate man's head, spewing endless blood and cerebrospinal fluid all over the place!
As the sadistic man turned and stood still in place, the curtains closed in and soon, the lights shut too.