"Rise and Shine.." Paris exclaimed with a microphone at the Zero's home— his grin, jovial as he began to mildly chuckle to himself. Zero groggily walked out their homes, alone— except for Paris who was gleefully giggling.
"Is it just you here?" Zero grumbled, barely awake.
"Someone died tonight." Paris's face shifted— monotone tone, his eyes peering into Zero's as he walked away from the stake. "I smell it in the air, the witch went into activity." Paris placed his palm on his face as Zero stared into his eyes.
"You enjoy this?"
"Only because I'm told to… please find whoever died, you are good at stuff like tracking right." Paris muttered.
Zero walked off, nodding.
"Knock knock." Zero spoke, banging on the door.
"What do you want?" Saraline begrudgingly opened the door in her pajamas, eyebags reared through her face as she gazed at the Imp below her.
"Someone's died… it wasn't you so want to help find the victim?"
"Someone what?" Saraline's eyes widened as she closed the door. Reopening it in her usual outfit before leaving the house— immediately. "Fucking hell, this Reprisal is a piece of shit." She muttered as Zero led her to the next home.
Knock Knock.
"Hello Imp." Jeremiah grinned, his afro was fuzzy and his hat was off— pajamas.
"An individual died, good it wasn't a kid." Zero called Jeremiah over.
"Pardon? Someone actually participated in this?" He slammed the door shut. Before emerging in his typical outfit, "Disgusting."
He jumped down the stairs to his short terraced home before following the two before him.
Gabriel left his home shortly after due to the commotion, he stepped down stairs— his mask off revealing his face.
"What's the issue?" He groggily spoke, his eyes almost shut.
"Someone passed away— on our watch." Saraline muttered.
Silence.
"What?" Gabriel's eyes widened— he clutched his head and began to bite his fingers. "I failed— again, the head was right, I'm a failure… I let another die.", he picked his fists off his head before repeatedly punching himself in the body.
Saraline began to walk to him however Zero pulled her away and the trio left Gabriel to walk to the next home.
"Hello there." Jeremiah stabbed the door.
Richard opened the door, his eyes rapidly looking around as he started to cough, his head was bleeding and blood stained his nightwear— "What's up kid?"
"Someone died…" Jeremiah blatantly spoke.
Richard gulped as he began to blink profusely. Jeremiah tilted his head— his eyes peering into Richards.
"You seem tense?" Jeremiah spun the helicopter hat.
"Someone died again—" Richard's voice quivering, "I know I act like a tough guy but still… I knew this would fucking happen, I tried to stop it.."
"You what?" Saraline spoke, "Tried to stop it?"
"Don't ask me… just go." Richard shrieked before slamming the door on their faces, but he didn't leave the house
Before Saraline could knock the door opened, Felix Nightingale— awake and smiling.
"What could the Seventh Saint want with I? Want to apologise for yesterday?" Felix mocked, he held a mirror as he fixed his hair.
"Someone died last night Felix, we're looking into who for now." Zero spoke out, pointing at the other houses, "Nobody knows who— so we are on a goose chase."
"Someone died? The challenge started, whoever was late to their homes last night was the killer indeed— lucky for me I was one of the first thrown into mine, nice alibi." Felix quickly sputtered, seemingly rehearsed.
"You believe it's a murder?" Saraline blurted.
"Of course, the killer was the witch— whoever the last to their homes— was chosen, then they possibly were either forced to kill someone— or chose their victims…" Felix threw his mirror to the side, it cracked but he didn't break his gaze at Saraline. "Paris was talking about appointing a killer and them being extremely 'evil', you should steer away from people who weren't afraid of murdering someone before— or already have."
"Thank you Felix, surprisingly." Jeremiah sincerely spoke.
"I take the challenges seriously, it's why I made it this far— Jonah was young, let's hope the victim was an older person." The affluent man sombrely spoke before closing his door.
Knock Knock.
"Hello!" Dara cheerfully opened the door in her nightgown, hugging Jeremiah. "How's your day."
"I woke up with bad news Dara, I'm sad I have to tell you aswell." Jeremiah started to push Dara off, "Someone died last night."
"Died?" Dara's eyes blinked repeatedly, "How?"— her voice was starting to break as she began to shiver.
"We don't know, we are still trying to find the victim. Do you mind helping?" Zero spoke.
"Yes! It'd be a heroic thing, you are doing something good by helping out Imp." Dara closed the door— before leaving in her usual outfit, a floral dress accompanied with a builder's hat on her head.
Repeated knockings on the door, Psylaiso opened— her body the same, she can't change anyway.
"What's the issue Saraline?" She pondered, her face flustered.
"Someone died— you can help find the victim correct?"
"Yes— it's all I can do." Psylaiso left her home.
"Don't you have anything else to say?" Jeremiah tapped the Slime's shoulder who simply shrugged before walking off with the rest.
Knock Knock.
"Hello… ensemble." Famine was smoking a cigarette in his usual attire as he looked at Dara who knocked on the door. His hat was off revealing his scarred forehead and skull.
"Sorry to interrupt Sir Famine."The ghouls' eyes widened, memories flashed through his head.
"Please don't call me that, a friend did and their gone— bad memories." Famine itched his neck before creating a miniature bow and arrow in his hand to show Dara.
"Sorry Mister. But someone died last night— we were wondering if you can help." Dara squealed, she looked to the ground— but Famine patted her head, his skeletal fingers carried warmth.
"Sure— it'll be atonement for my sins.." He walked out the house to join the party.
However as Famine trailed behind, Saraline began to budge Zero.
"Remember what Felix said." She whispered into the Imp's pointy ears, who gave a silent nod as understanding
Knock Knock.
"Greetings." Nil opened the door joyfully— her eyes fixated on Zero although Famine was the one who knocked.
"Sorry to burst your sex bubbles, someone passed away unfortunately— you think you can help?" The ghoul coldly spoke— lighting a cigar.
"What can I do?" Nil shrugged.
"We are working as if this is a murder— so you can either help with information regarding yourself of last night or anyone else." Jeremiah licked his lollipop.
"When Paris flicked me back into this house— it was cramped, so I spent my evening cleaning up— making it bigger. Someone came to my door, complained about the noise so I simply stopped and went to sleep." Nil recounted with hand gestures.
"Who was this person?" Zero spat.
"I don't know if it was a guy or girl, they were wearing something dark though— so they camouflaged with the night. Their voice was muffled as well— it was kind of scary, thought I'd die." Nil joked.
"This isn't a time for jokes— thanks for your account." Zero hissed before slamming the door. "She's not joining us."
"Lovers quarrel?" Saraline mocked.
"Be serious and be an actual hero." Zero spat— Saraline's eyes narrowed as she nodded, she agreed.
Knock Knock.
"Ilya here." The girl opened her door holding a bottle of whiskey in a tank top and jeans, she was bumbling around it— half awake.
"Are you stable?" Dara politely asked— bowing her head down."Yes! What's the issue?" Ilya gulped as she dropped the bottle— glass shattering, "Aw man."
"You are underage— would Emilia enjoy this?" Saraline protested."Emilia doesn't let me do anything! Same with Miles! They both make me a child! Anyway what do you want?" "Someone died last night, judging by the doors we went through— it's possible it was someone you know." Jeremiah crossed his arms, "I'm sorry."
"Fuck." Ilya slapped her head before beginning to cry, "Oh shit… no fucking way— are you for real?"
"Sorry." Famine spoke.
"Shit! Fuck man! This is bullshit!" Ilya slammed the door— shut.
Knock Knock.
"Mog." The goblin opened the door hastily, "Did someone actually die from this challenge?"
"You catch on quick." Jeremiah smiled.
"This is serious shit, thought maybe it'd be fun but nah— after challenge two, I got to be realistic." Mog bit his hand— "My alibi— I was out late. I tinkered the door so I was able to leave, don't got powers so I need my noggin. I was sitting by the stake— steamy, saw silhouettes— multiple people, don't know how much, just not one— now it could either be multiple victims, killers or something worse."
"Like what?" Zero questioned.
"Maybe it wasn't one of us, maybe it was a saint— you ask Paris what he know?" Mog smiled, "You didn't expect it'd be one of them— perfect, they won't get questioned if they knock on your door, then they'll kill you. They are unexpecting."
"Cheers, you've been helpful Mog." Jeremiah shook hands with the Goblin before he quietly shut the door.
"So much unexpected help." Zero grumbled.
"You can't say that about people you barely interact with, three homes left." Famine muttered before leading the way.
Heavy metal blasted through the door as Gloxer stared at Famine.
"What you want?" The boy spoke, his tuxedo half ripped and his hair messy.
"What were you up to last night?" Famine beckoned.
"Who's asking?"
"Someone died last night— now speak, delinquent."
Gloxer spat on the ground, "Listen here fucker, if it aint one of my people— I don't care.""Well chance is— 50/50 it's one of your people." Jeremiah grabbed Gloxer by the collar, "Now speak— you are scruffy, now tell why— or did you kill someone?"
"I'd say if I did. I was listening to music— I get hyper, my emotions fluctuate— so what?" Gloxer hissed, Jeremiah dropped him down just to immediately have the door slammed in his face.
The music continued.
Knock Knock.
Lichness opened the door— eyebags on his skeleton. "Hello Famine."
"Sorry to talk under these circumstances again brother, someone died— and I guess I know who now."
"Shit— can I resurrect them?"
"We haven't even seen the corpse yet." Zero spoke, "Who knows if it'd work with your powers.""Fair enough— gather everyone around to meet at the house you think it is then Famine.""Sure thing brother." Famine muttered as Lichness left— the two both shared a cigarette.
The participants stood in front of the last house— ominous signs floated around it— flies swarming the entrance, as if it was a barrier.
"Wait— if I count everyone here." Richard gulped— his skin crawling as he began to fiddle with his gloves, "Don't tell me."
"What the fuck?" Ilya bit her tongue as Gloxer began to hyperventilate.
"No fucking way." Mog scratched his arm.
The four barged open the door— ignoring the pleas of those behind them to view.
Roxanne lay in bed.
Richard chuckled nervously, patting her head. "You gave me a scare, babe. Now wakey—"
She didn't move.
Ilya stepped forward, hand trembling as she touched Roxanne's neck. Cold. She turned her body over.
Eyes closed. Mouth open. Flies crawling across her lips.
Dead.
Richard's eyes twitched, spirals bleeding into black. His jaw split open as his scream tore through the house, through the village, through the cathedral itself:
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"