Episode 26 - THE END

Too late.  Again.

There was a bloody scene with Blake crippled on the floor; a gaping hole through his chest.  He was still holding onto life but was it slipping quickly. 

“Blake…” Alaire leaned over him, “What did this?”

Blake coughed up blood, his eyes rolling, “Some…thing…dark…something…”

Alaire grabbed Blake’s hand.  Aaron and Matt crouched next to them in respect, “We’ll stop them,” Aaron said, “Rest easy, friend.”

Blake snickered, coughed, and was gone.

Alaire refused to cry this time, but her body felt like a shattered mirror with someone continuing to stomp on the shards of glass into smaller pieces. 

“I really don’t think Taylor could do this…” she said.

“We can always go ask her,” Aaron growled.  He was looking at a door at the end of the hallway.  It was closed, but a dark shadow loomed around it.  Alaire could feel it too, that something sinister waited for them inside.

Aaron, Alaire, and Matt walked to the door, to their doom and to, hopefully, answers.  Alaire could sense a numbness taking over her.  There’s been so much death and terror that whatever was ahead couldn't possibly bring her any lower.  They had to stop this.

Aaron opened the door, which was surprisingly unlocked, and walked into an empty a small storage room.  Matt muttered something that sounded like “shit, shit shit.” In the middle of the floor was a large chalk-drawn symbol that resembled a butterfly.  

“That’s it…” Aaron whispered.

Standing in the far corner of the room was Taylor.  Her back faced them and her head was bowed.  Thick black chalk covered her hands and elbows.  She was whispering something over and over, “Sorry, sorry, sorry…”

Alaire took care not to touch the symbol with her feet, but slowly started walking towards her, “Taylor?’

Taylor flinched.

“I think… it’s time you explained yourself.”

Taylor’s head slowly rose, “Oh… you want answers.”

Alaire actually hoped that in the end Taylor would’ve said something like "she was a victim and none of this was her doing."  Instead, Taylor’s voice was cold and apathetic.  

“How?” Alaire demanded, “How could you be involved? How could you do something like this?”

Aaron and Matt stood by Alaire, both fuming.

“How…” Taylor mumbled, “Do you know what thanatophobia is?”

Alaire scoffed, “What does that have to do with anything?”

“EVERYTHING!” 

Her volume startled them.  That voice couldn’t belong to a soft-spoken girl like her, Alaire cringed, imagining the dark figure from the video.

“I found a way… to escape death,” Taylor was half crying and half laughing, “But we have to make the appropriate sacrifices… to please Thanatos.”

Finally she turned around to face them.  It was like staring at a ghost.  Her face was pale and sunken.

“The only way… Thanatos relieves you from the reaper… is if you reap souls yourself.  They have to be willing.  They have to be consumed by fear.  There has to be a certain amount…”

“So all of this was you!” Aaron, “And like hell we were willing!”

Taylor smiled, “But you were.  You all signed up for The Thanato Project.”

The three of them shifted their eyes to each other.  Perhaps this had something to do with the seminar Professor Kellor hosted, Alaire wondered.

“You were all more than willing, excited even.  I interviewed you all and you confessed your personal fears to me.  I did my best… but I was too careless.”

Taylor was back to tears, “I left symbols too obvious for you to find… I got too attached to… Oh, no... He’s so very mad at me…”

“How could you be doing all of this?” Alaire asked, “You were with us… why?”

“To observe mostly. Oh… I wasn't alone.”

Taylor was back to smiling, “There’s more of us… and him.”

The door shut behind them.  Alaire and Aaron turned around to see Matt.  At first, Alaire didn't quite understand what it meant, and then it hit her.

“Matt?” she spat.

Aaron stormed over to him, but Matt pulled out a gun and stopped him dead in his tracks.  Alaire shook her head, did he have that this whole time? Impossible! 

“Sorry kids,” Matt said, “But that’s how it is.”

Alaire quickly shot Aaron a look, who shook his head frantically, “Not me, I’m not with this garbage.”

“You’re the professor…” Alaire said.

Matt sighed, “Yeah, crazy right? I can pull off hipster awkward-adult pretty well.”

“You…” Aaron glowered, “You don’t look like Kellor…”

“Well, duh.  I wasn't going to come in here looking like myself.”

Alaire watched the gun in his hand.  He was pointing it at them like it was no big deal.  

“So what happens now?  Are you just going to shoot us and get back to worshipping Thanatos?  How do you know he’s even real?  What if it’s something demonic screwing with you!”

Matt aimed the gun at her, “You didn't see him? On the computer.”

Taylor whimpered suddenly, and Matt sighed heavily.

“I’ve done quite a few of these,” Matt spoke calmly, “But this was Taylor’s first.  She got a little carried away… Didn't you.”

“I told him I was sorry,” Taylor sobbed.

“Sorry sweetheart, I don’t make the rules.”

The symbol on the floor started to leak a black fog.  Alaire clung to Aaron’s jacket as they scooted away. The black figure that they saw before started to emerge from the smoke.  It struggled like it was inside thick sludge.  

Taylor cowered back to her corner, “There’s still time… I can fix it…” 

The black figure, Thanatos, stalked towards her.  No way, Alaire thought, there’s no freaking way this was real!  There was nothing left for Taylor to do.  Alaire wanted to run, to not see anymore, and just hide back in her dorm room at school.  She had to avert her eyes.

Thanatos grabbed Taylor by the mouth, muffling her screams, and lifted her off the ground.  She kicked and tried pulling away, but in a split second, Thanatos’s grip crushed her skull making a loud snapping sound.

“Pity…” Matt said, “She really was a creative one.  I thought she’d take this more seriously.”

“You sick-” Alaire started to say, but Aaron suddenly dropped from her side.  He was on his knees scrubbing at the chalk symbol.  Instantly, Thanatos was roaring in pain, and Alaire could see that physically his mass was weakening.  The blackness making up his shape flickered like a dying flashlight.

The deafening sound of a gunshot made Alaire’s ears ring.  Aaron rolled onto his side, clutching the spot between his shoulder and neck. 

“Aaron…” Alaire could barely hear herself speak, “Aaron!”

Aaron was in shock.  He kept pressing on his wound, but his eyes looked around him like he was unsure of where he was.  

“Don’t touch him,” Matt said.  He still had his gun out so Alaire obeyed.  Matt grabbed her roughly by the arm, “Unfortunately, that doesn’t count as a real sacrifice.”

Alaire was dragged to the door, “Where are we going?” she asked, “Why are you doing this Matt…”

“I’m your professor,” he chuckled, avoiding the question.

“Seriously… Why are you ok with this?” 

Instead of opening the door, Matt pressed her head against the wall and placed the gun on her temple.

“What was it that scared you again? I feel like it had something to do with water… Drowning perhaps?  Or was it insects… The irrational fear of tiny creatures getting under your skin.”

Alaire shut her eyes, this was it.

“Death by your fears…” Matt hissed, “Is the only way his hunger is satisfied.  Then… we gain immortality.”

“At the expense of so many good people?” Alaire felt some last-chance courage building up inside her, “Honestly, you’ve already sold your soul.  You’re worth nothing!”

“You’re making this really hard on me…” Matt said.  He grabbed a handful on Alaire’s hair and pulled it tight.  Tears involuntarily fell from her eyes. “Normally these things go a lot more smoothly… Now hurry on out and finish the job.” 

He threw Alaire against the door.  No, she trembled, not out there again, not all alone!  

Suddenly, Matt shouted in surprise.  His body hit the ground hard.  Aaron was on top of him, wrestling the gun from his hand.

“Finish the symbol!” Aaron ordered, “Do it now!”

Alaire scrambled to the floor using every part of her body to destroy the drawing, her arms, legs, even stomach.  It was a large symbol and her body was pretty small, so there was a lot of ground to cover.

Thanatos was crumbling to pieces in front of them.  The more he disappeared the more Alaire could feel the air changing.  The evil aura was depleting, and it was easier to breathe like they’d been trapped in a dark cloud this entire time.

Someone grabbed Alaire’s foot and dragged her back.  Matt had gained the upper hand on Aaron, but only for a moment.  Aaron gave Matt a powerful punch to the face, knocking him out, and the gun slid passed Alaire and against the wall. 

Instinctively, Alaire got up and obtained the gun.  Her body was shaking and coated in black chalk.  Aaron looked up at her knowingly.  He was bleeding badly from his shoulder but he managed to make his way over to stand next to her.  Matt was stirring from his knock-out, and sat up off the ground, frowning.

“I guess it’ll be easy for you…” he muttered, “You’re a killer too aren't you?”

Of course, he knew about the clown, he knew about everything.  Alaire almost dropped the gun from her hands being so unsteady.  Aaron extended his hand out to her, “You don’t need to do anything.”

“He killed my brother,” Alaire said, “He killed everyone.  And he’s killed more.”

“Yeah, but you don't have to,” Aaron protested, “I’ll do it.”

That wouldn't be fair, Aaron,  Alaire thought, I already have blood on my conscience.

“The final girl…” Matt slowly rose, “Make your choice.”

Matt rushed towards them, not giving Alaire time to think.  So she reacted.

Gunshot.  Gunshot.  Gunshot. 

Alaire swallowed.  Matt was back on the ground this time with three bullet holes through the chest.  He touched his blood with concern in his eyes, “But… I thought… I couldn't die…”

“Sounds like you were duped, asshole,” Alaire aimed the gun at his forehead.

Aaron pulled her back, she was in the mood to protest, but Thanatos was making his way towards the commotion.  He was only half a figure, most of him decomposed.  Instead of bothering with Alaire and Aaron, he walked passed them with indifference and headed for Matt.

“No, no, not me!” 

Thanatos crushed his skull in.

Both Aaron and Alaire blocked the image, but the disturbing noises of crushing bones couldn't be avoided. It made Alaire gag. 

“You got most  of the symbol…” Aaron spoke in a pained voice, “So why…”

Thanatos turned to them, his presence domineering even in half form.  However, he didn't reach for them or move at all.

What do you wish for?

The voice was like a whisper in the back of her mind.  Alaire was puzzled.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

You have satisfied my hunger.  I must give you something in return. 

“Are you hearing this?” Aaron nudged her.  Alaire nodded.

“If that’s true…” Alaire thought of Cole, and how badly she wanted him back.  But that was playing with the same dark magic that got them all into this mess.  This had to stop.

“Let us leave this place, alive.  Don’t come after us again.”

As you wish.

*****

“Update on the missing college students from UOA: two have been located, Alaire Bowen and Aaron Clement.  Both seemed to have escaped death, one suffering from a bullet wound in the shoulder.”

“We interviewed Miss Bowen once stabilized and she claims that this is the work of a sinister cult worshiping someone named Thanatos.  Supposedly the god of death.”

“The bodies of Jessica Hunt, Cole Bowen, Katie Kelley, Dwight Mendenhall, Jacob Tanner, Jane Garrity, Aly Mangisi, Kord Cheff, Spencer Holdaway, Blake Davis, and Andrew Millet were finally discovered early this morning.  Many of them brutally murdered.  The images are too graphic to be released to the public.” 

“The ongoing investigation on this Death Cult has lead officials to believe that there could be a link with the recent disappearances at several other universities.”

“Professor Kellor, a teacher at UOA, and Taylor Atchley, the prime suspects, have  both disappeared. The victims of the UOA kidnapping claim that both were killed, but their bodies are still nowhere to be found.” 

“A memorial service will be held this weekend for the student’s who tragically lost their lives.” 

“We’re here interviewing Taylor’s previous psychologist who worked with her in her time at the institution.  What can you tell us about her, and what could make her go so far?

- She was a sweet girl.  But very scared, very confused.  The idea of a mortal life is only natural for humans and animals to understand.  We all know that there’s an end to this earthly life.  However, for some special people, like Taylor, the idea of dying is worse than any conjured nightmare.  It’s something we cannot always control.  It’s something that will come to us at any given moment.  Living with that anxiety and anticipation every day, every hour, every second of your life can make anyone distressed.  

I believe that Taylor was seduced by the idea of a being or entity that could save her from her ultimate fear, and without realizing it she plummeted down the rabbit hole.  Everything is justified when you believe it’s in self-defense.  

"Thank you for speaking with us."

THE END

Episode 25

Alaire’s elbows were starting to hurt from crawling in the vent.  Her clothes were bloody and wet and were sticking to her skin.  She shivered.  How long had they been here, she wondered, hours, days?  It felt like an eternity since they woke up in that room.

She was leading the way with no certainty of where to go.  Blake was close behind her which put her at ease for some reason.  Having at least someone from her group alive was reassuring, and it made her feel for Matt and Aaron who were now the last in each of theirs. 

The image of Jane’s head rolling made her stomach clench.

“See anything?” Blake asked.

“N-no, not yet,” Alaire said, “Although it’s dark so… Hopefully- EEP!”

Her arms suddenly felt nothing but air underneath her.  She was going to fall!  Blake quickly grabbed the back of her legs, “What is it!”

“It drops here!” Alaire said in a panic.

“Damn, I wish we could see…”

“Wait… There’s a light down there.” 

Alaire reached out, hoping there were walls next to her.  Yes!  She pressed both of her hands on each wall to the right and left of her to hold her body as she tossed her legs over the edge.  Next, she did the same with her feet, “Just spider your way down with the walls,” she instructed, “Oh… and try not to fall on me.”

It was almost pitch black, but there was a light source below that looked like another vent with the lines it cast shadowed.  Honestly, she felt safer hiding in this vent, but they had to escape.

Her feet touched the floor, again, “It’s not too far, come on down,” she said.  She had to crouch again before hitting her head, and she followed the light.  The boys were sliding down the vent with much less grace.  Their loud thumping made her jump.  

The room the light was coming from looked like an office.  The brightness was coming from a large panel of computer screens.  This time the air vent was close to the ground, thank goodness, and Alaire pushed against it with all her might.  This one felt screwed into the wall, but the screws were fairly weak.  She punched the vent with the back of her arm, as to not damage her already scabbed knuckles, and she managed to break one of the screws.  

With that, Alaire forced the rest of the screws out and entered the new computer room.  Blake, Matt, and Aaron soon followed, looking banged up. 

“You could've given me some kind of warning,” Matt said, “Like ‘hey don’t fall on me’” 

“I didn't think I had to,” Aaron replied, then looked captivated by the computers, “What is this?”

It reminded Alaire of a security room.  Each screen had a camera capturing a different area, and after a few seconds, they’d switch to a new location.  Some filing cabinets were in the corner, along with a large map heavily marked with a black sharpie.

The files on the computer desk made Alaire’s heart stop.

“These…” she opened one of the files, “These are us…”

Blake hastily grabbed one of the files as well, “It’s Jessica.”

Matt and Aaron joined them, “This one’s Dwight’s… and Kord.”

“Katie,” Aaron muttered.

There were fifteen files, each filled with pictures of each of them.  Alaire cringed when she saw the pictures of her.  Some were directly from her Facebook page and some were taken of her at school while unaware.  “Ugh! Creepy…”

“Wait…” Matt was pulling papers out of his file, “This is… my handwriting.”

“Yours?” Alaire started looking through her own file, and it was true, there was a piece of paper that she clearly wrote herself.

“I’m so confused,” Matt moaned.

Aaron suddenly looked very serious, like an idea was brewing, “Oh… oh, wait. I remember writing this.”  He looked over at Alaire with realization, “And you!  All of you!”

“All of us what?” Blake said.

“We were all there!” Aaron said, “It was a seminar we had to attend for psychology, and we filled out these papers… Professor Kellor and… That blonde chick.  They hosted it.”

“I… barely remember,” Alaire admitted, “But I was obviously there.  This is definitely my writing…” 

“It’s…phobias,” Blake muttered, “A seminar on phobias.  Ah… I remember.  There were lots of people there, it was pretty interesting…”

“And out of all those people they picked us,” Matt looked angry.

“Maybe we weren't the only ones…” Alaire ran to the filing cabinet.  Just as she suspected, several files were inside all labeled with names and photos.

“Macy, Ryan, Tina, Gerald… There's so many…” 

Blake cursed and pointed at one of the computer screens, “Alaire, it's Wonder World.”

On the screen Blake was watching a clown was sluggishly walking around with a weapon in hand.  The ground below him was streaked with blood, and Alaire remembered too well that that was where Jessica was killed.

“Oh my gosh…” 

“They could’ve triggered the clowns,” Blake looked all over the desk for the keyboards, “Watch this…” Blake clicked something, and the clown froze.  Alaire remembered the clocks and imagined the tune that would bring out and take away the clowns.  The clown started walking away and disappeared.

“No…” Alaire couldn't believe it.

“The spiders… the water…” Matt said thoughtfully, “I bet that’s how they did this too.”

“So it really was staged,” Aaron said, “It was all set up, and they’d watch us all die.” 

Blake’s eyes paused on one of the screens, “Where is that…?” 

Alaire looked at a few more screens, one had the hospital lobby, one had the room with the bathtubs, and one looked like an empty hallway.  Empty, except for a dark figure.  And that’s exactly what it was, just a dark figure.  It had no face, no clothing, just a black ominous mass in the shape of a human.

“It’s just standing there…” Alaire said, “Hey!”

On the same screen, Taylor was walking, apparently unaware of the dark figure ahead of her.  Her head was turned backward as if watching out for something.  Her hair was flat against her back, wet and pressing against her damp clothing.  Once she turned around and saw the figure, she looked how Alaire felt.  Taylor ran.

“Oh no…” Blake said.

Suddenly, Blake ran for the door in the room and bolted out.

“Wait!” Alaire said, but it was too late, “We don’t even know where that is…”

“It might be closer than we think…” Aaron said, “I mean, where did Taylor go when she came through the vent?”

“Not here, or the vent opening wouldn't have been screwed in still…” Alaire said, “I’m not sure where she went.”

“Well let’s follow that loony,” Aaron headed out as well.

“What! Why!” Matt said, “Let’s not compulsively run around with creepy everything everywhere, right?”

“I know,” Aaron, “But let’s also not get separated.”

Alaire didn’t want to leave all of this evidence behind, but they also didn't have a route to escape yet.  So Alaire, Matt, and Aaron left the room.  The hallway definitely looked like the same layout the dark figure was chilling out in.  A shiver ran up Alaire’s spine.

“What do you think that dark personage was…” Alaire said.

“Nothing good,” Aaron said, “Nothing good at all.”

“Where did he go!” Matt said, looking irritated, “Does he know this chick or something?”

“I don’t think so, but he’s been protective of her since we got into this mess,” Alaire said.  It was a cute and sad relationship, she thought.  Matt rolled his eyes, not convinced.  

Then, they heard Blake shouting.

His shouts were distorted in pain and surprise, and he wasn't too far away.

“Blake!” Alaire called.

*****

Taylor clutched her open wounds as she ran down the hallway.  She clenched her jaw, feeling each cut reopen with every step.  The cuts were all over her body from the razor blades, how inconvenient.

She was almost there, just a little farther, but someone’s voice came from behind her.

“Hey!”

Oh no, her heart flinched.

Blake was running towards her.  She threw up her arms, “Stop! Don’t come any closer!”

He looked bewildered, but slowed at least into a walk, “What?”  

What could she say to stop him, she frowned, “Please…”

Blake looked like he understood something.  It was obvious he was hurt, but Taylor was surprised by his reaction.

“Look… We figured some stuff out.  And honestly… after you took out that clown, I kind of knew already.”

Taylor's mouth gaped.

“Then… why didn't you say something?”

Blake shrugged, “I figured you were in some kind of trouble.  Heck, we all were. Are.”

Taylor’s body trembled, “You really need to go…”

“I came to find you, so let me help.”

“No!” Taylor begged, “Please go, now!”

She gasped, and her terrified eyes made Blake realize something was behind him.  Blake whirled around, and the black faceless figure was there.  It twitched, and made hollow growling sounds.  

Without warning, it thrust its arm straight through Blake’s chest.  

“Not him! I said not him!”

 

Episode 24

“I didn't notice it at first… In fact, it wasn't until I saw Taylor again that I started remembering some of you too,” Jacob said.

Aaron wasn't sure this was the best time to chat, however, the topic did peak everyone’s interest.  He kept a powerful grip on the door, but the creepy people outside hadn’t tried breaking down the door yet.  In fact, Aaron was puzzled, he couldn't hear them at all anymore.

“Something I noticed when we first met our group is that we were all around the same age and some of us were in college.  I sat by Taylor in psychology, with Professor Kellor at UOA.”

That seemed to make everyone react.  

“Kellor?” Alaire said, “I totally had him one semester…”

“Same here…” Blake didn't sound pleased.

Matt narrowed his eyes, “So we all had the same psychology teacher… and that explains what exactly?”

Jacob shrugged, “I’m not sure, but I have a feeling… Maybe I’m being crazy…”

“Spit it out,” Blake grunted.

“That Taylor might know something.”

“Pfft.” Blake rolled his eyes, however, his tone wasn't very convincing.  Alaire looked down at her shoes as if in thought, but didn't say anything.

“What could she possibly know?” Blake asked, “I’m not making a blonde joke here but, come on.”

“I can’t explain it, alright,” Jacob said, “It’s just a weird feeling I had.”

“Well,” Aaron intervened, “Regardless if she knows something or not, we won’t know unless we find her.”

Aaron’s eyes traveled from the puddle by Taylor’s bathtub and towards the corner where the footprints end, “It looks like she had the right idea…”  He pointed up, against the wall, at an air vent.  It was almost unnoticeable because it blended in with the color or the wall so well.

“Brilliant…” Blake huffed, “How did she reach it?”

Alaire shook her head, “Would she just leave Andrew and Jane here like this, though?”

“Well… Andrew is dead,” Blake said, “And Jane looks pretty close to it.”

“We can at least get her out of this death trap,” Alaire suggested, “Start working on the air vent and we’ll get Jane.” 

Blake was tall enough to barely reach the air vent and started wiggling the top off.  Alaire, Jacob, and Matt fiddled with the tarp covering Jane inside the tub.  Aaron peered outside the small window from the door and noticed the hallway was empty.  The creeps gave up, Aaron guessed.

Jacob got the last tug on the tarp.  Without thinking, he reached into the water to scoop Jane out, when Alaire gasped, “Wait!”

Something, or some things, was in the water.  Jane’s head rolled off along with the tarp onto the tiled floor.  The rest of her body was practically all bones and the bath water was dark red.  Insects the size of golf balls were swimming around in the water quite actively.

Not insects.  Spiders.

Alaire couldn't hold in her terrified yelp when the head hit the ground.  Everyone jumped back in alarm, except for poor Jacob.  Even though he recoiled from the grotesque scene in the tub, his arm was covered in tiny spiders, and they were burrowing into his skin.

Jacob frantically tried to scrape the spiders off, screaming and panicking as he did so.  These spiders weren’t normal.  Aaron watched as a few spiders still in the tub start leaping towards Jacob and clinging to his shirt.  

Matt moved in to start squashing the beasts off of Jacob’s clothing, but as soon as he got close enough, Jacob was already covered.  His face and arms and pants were a mass of tiny brown legs.  His cries were being muffled as spiders forced their way into his throat.

A few stray spiders started gaining interests in the other, creeping towards Matt, the next closest source of food. Alaire and Matt scrambled towards the door ready to sprint as fast as they could away from this place.  Aaron was ready to bust the door open when, to his horror, a face appeared in the window.  The woman with long wet hair in her face was staring at him with bloodshot eyes. 

“Fudge!” Aaron held the door tightly closed again.

A soft knocking on glass came next.

Aaron looked at the large glass screen that exposed the first room they started in.  The chairs were still placed in the darkness, however, someone else was in the room watching them now.  The figure was hidden in the shadows, but Aaron could tell he was big and tall.  He was sitting in one of the chairs, his hands placed on his thighs.  But something caught Aaron’s attention that made him livid.

Leaning against the stranger’s shoulder also sitting in one of the chairs was Katie, still dead with the bullet wound in her head.  

There’s the sicko behind all of this, sitting there with just a sheet of glass between them, Aaron felt his body quake with rage.

Unfortunately there wasn't much time to think.  The spiders were quickly feasting from Jane’s body onto Jacobs, who was now half a body on the floor.  If they didn't decide on an escape route soon they were going to be screwed, Aaron thought.

“Blake!” he bellowed, “Get that thing open yet?”

“Done,” Blake had lost his cool, but fumbled enough to get the vent open, “You first, girly.” He nodded to Alaire.  She took off but felt a tickle on her hand.  A hairy spider managed to attach itself to her, but she smacked it just in time, its guts stuck to her palm.

Blake cupped his hands to give Alaire a lift into the vent.  She crawled in quickly to make room for the rest.  Matt came next, but he hesitated, “Go, bro, I’m way taller, I can climb in by myself.”

Matt gave Blake a lift, now all who was left was Aaron.

“I let go of this door and the hallway zombies might come flooding in,” Aaron warned.

“Just run for it, I’ll boost you up!”

Aaron took several heavy breaths, and let go of the door.  His heart was pounding as he ran past the sea of baby spiders and took one last glance at the stalker on the other side of the glass.  Aaron was surprised by Matt’s strength as he was helped through the air vent opening.  His shoulders were almost too broad to move, but he wiggled enough for Matt to follow.  Matt was able to climb in with ease thanks to his height and he wormed his way as close as he could to Aaron’s feet as possible.

Two more dead, Aaron grimaced, there were only four of them left, not including the blonde chick who disappeared.  However, the air vent was damp with a trail of water, so she definitely came through here.

The four of them shimmied their way through the vents, breathing in dust particles and losing vision to the darkness.  The last think Aaron could hear from the room they escaped was a loud and angry roar.  Someone was not pleased.

Episode 23

As soon as they entered the hydrotherapy area a heavy sense of dread washed over them.  It was cold and the air was thick.  The five of them walked in a penguin circle and waddled their way down the long hallway filled with joint corridors.

“Keep an eye out for the girls, but if we find the exit we need to take it,” Aaron said.

“I think you’re right,” Alaire said through chattering teeth, “We can at least get help if we escape.”

Blake sounded annoyed, “I don’t think they plan on anyone finding out about them.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean do you really think they’ll leave any evidence or survivors to expose them?  Who’s to say they’re going to let any of us live even if we make it out.”

“That’s a depressing thought,” Alaire muttered.

“It’s something Jessica said to us before… well you know,” Blake said, “She was telling us what Thanato meant.  How Thanatos is supposed to be the god of death or something… and she started freaking out about this being a death project, meaning we all have to die.”

“You’re bringing this up now?” Alaire snapped.

“What the hell man…” Matt groaned.

“I’m not saying we don’t have a fighting chance,” Blake said, “Just that we shouldn't trust these people.”

Most of the doors down the corridor led to pitch black rooms.  Blake remembered the room where Andrew, Jane, and Taylor were captive was brightly lit.  Should be easy to locate, he thought.

Soft creaking noises came from the hanging lamps above them, that swayed ever so slightly.  Blake’s stomach tightened, it wasn't like there was a cracked window anywhere.

Someone down the hallway ran from one door and into another.  It was a dark silhouette of a man with no hair.  

The group tensed.  “Dammit, already?” Blake hissed.

“Oh…” Matt whined.

Jacob started to say, “Shh, we’ll be-” but was cut off by the sound of rushing water.  It was loud enough to make them all jump.  Without noticing, they’d come to a complete halt.  Blake made the first move forward.

“You seem tense.”

Matt gritted his teeth so loud Alaire could hear it from two people away.  A woman’s voice whispered from an unknown direction.  Her voice was smooth and level.

“I can help you.  Everyone loves my treatments.  Everyone leaves feeling so peaceful…”

“I don’t like this,” Alaire said.

“I can’t tell where she is,” Blake whirled his head around, ready for someone to appear.

They kept moving but were moving a lot slower this time.  They were finally reaching the end of the hallway and approaching a turn, but also approaching the doors where a person ran by.  Blake kept his eyes on the door as he passed.

It slammed shut.

Alaire bit her lip to avoid screaming.  Not seeing the need to investigate the group hastily walked passed and turned the corner.  

Thud. Thud. 

Oh no, Matt cringed, he remembered sounds like that in the mines.  The sound of someone else’s feet walking through something wet.  He dared to look behind him, he and Aaron were bringing up the rear of the group.

Standing behind them right at the corner they just turned from was a woman with long hair, soaking wet and dripping.  Her clothes stuck to her body like she’d just fallen into a pool.  The woman’s posture was drooping, her shoulders forward, her head slightly to the side, and her knees bent. 

“We all find peace here…” her voice gurgled.

“Guys,” Matt squeaked.

From behind the sopping woman came another dripping wet person, this time a man.  Then another, and another, and another, until there were so many that they had to start walking towards Matt and the rest of the group.

“We all find peace… We’ll help you find peace.”

“Nope,” Matt pushed the group forward, “Let’s go, go, go!”

Blake didn't want to run head first into any deadly surprises, but he didn't want to find out what would happen if they stuck around with the wet zombie people.  The strangers didn't chase after them, but they continued to walk slowly towards them.  If the group hit a dead end they were in big trouble, Blake thought.

“Hey, hey,” Blake suddenly got hopeful, “There’s a room lit up down there.”

He ran towards it with the group right on his heels.  Assuming this room did lead to their trapped friends, how were they going to escape the hoard of random damp people?  They were blocking the way back, Blake’s head was spinning. 

The door had a small window to peer through where the light was blaring from.  Blake squinted and felt triumphant, “It’s them! It’s…”

“What?” Aaron demanded

Blake tried opening the door, but it was rusted shut, “Help me out?”

Aaron and Blake positioned themselves by the door started throwing their shoulders against it.  The door screeched loudly and wiggled against the pressure. 

“Hurry!” Alaire said.

The hoard was getting closer now that the group had stopped.  Aaron grunted, giving the door one final shove before it finally gave in.  Everyone scrambled inside and shut the door behind them. 

“Did we think this through?” Aaron said, “We’re just going to trap ourselves in here with creeps guarding the other side.”

The room they entered was blinding compared to the hallway they were in.  It smelled like burnt hair, and Blake remembered that Andrew had been fried.  He passed Andrew’s tub while covering his mouth and nose.  The floor was made of tiny white tiles and several drains were placed near the tubs, which were pretty old and dirty.  Tarps were strapped over their bodies so that only their heads were exposed.  Except there were only two heads.  One… Two…

“Where the hell is she?” Blake huffed, “We’ve got him, Jane…”

“Taylor is missing,” Alaire said, “And Jane doesn’t look so hot… She’s still asleep, and really pale…”

"She was poisoned," Jacob said, "If no one treated her..."

Taylor’s tarp had been removed and there was a trail of water from her tub to the corner of the room.  Blake eyeballed her footprints, where did you go?

“Um,” Jacob was fidgeting, “This might be a bad time, but… Was Taylor familiar to any of you?”

He took turns checking everyone’s reactions.  Aaron shrugged, still baby guarding the door, “I’m assuming we’re barricading ourselves in here, then?  They’re here…”

“Taylor’s footprints don’t lead towards the door,” Blake said, “I wonder if there’s another way out of here.”

“Jacob, why did you ask us that?” Alaire brought the question back.

Jacob’s face became serious, “I think I remember her.  In fact… I think I might remember all of you.” 

Episode 22

They left the horrific scene behind them as they passed through the door to their next challenge.  Aaron’s ears were still ringing from the gunshot.  Only a few inches over and it could’ve been his own head, he cringed, those bastards.

At first, rage clouded his judgment when he took in his new surroundings.  It was definitely an old-school styled hospital.  They were in another lobby, this one was a lot bigger, and was covered with blood.

Along the floor looked like someone took a large paintbrush and dragged red paint from the front desk all the way through one of the swinging hospital doorways.  Splatters decorated the white tiled walls, along with several hand prints.  Aaron sighed.

“Oh my…. no! This place screams ‘nope’!  What is the point of scaring the crap out of us like this?” Matt said, “Like honestly, why not just kill us already…”

“Don’t give them any more ideas,” Blake grunted.

It smelled like a normal doctor's office, which was scary enough, but with a heavy mixture of copper and rust.  Half of the lights were working, and the other few flickered on and off.

“So what’re our new objectives?”  Aaron’s voice was cold.

Alaire walked towards the front desk, with Blake close behind.  She started sifting through some of the files looking for clues, clearly ready to get this over with.

WELCOME TO THANATO’S ASYLUM.

YOUR TASK IS SIMPLE.  MAKE IT TO THE EXIT.  ONE OF THESE DOORS WILL GET YOU THERE, THE OTHERS WILL NOT.

“I hope they mean the exit to Thanato Project for good this time…” Alaire said, “I’m getting sick of being toyed with.”

“Agreed,” Blake said.

Matt sounds frustrated, “Is no one else bothered by the odd amounts of blood and obvious warning signs everywhere?”

Nobody seemed to have a comment.  Aaron located the map of the hospital framed on one of the walls.

“Tsk, there’s several exits.  Of course, they’re going to make this as vague and cryptic as usual.” 

“They also didn't say who or what would be in our way,” Alaire added.

Jacob finally stepped in, “Here’s a fatal question, should we split up into groups to cover more exits, or stick together to avoid pulling a basic horror movie fail?”

“I want to know how to get to the other side of the room we were in.  Are we just gonna leave those two girls in there to prune to death?” Blake asked.

He’s right, Aaron pondered, Jane and Taylor were both still alive and trapped in there.  What for?  Leverage? 

“We can look for them too,” Alaire said, “Hey… Aaron.”

“Yeah.”

“Do you have any idea why they thought you cheated?  I can’t imagine there are many rules in The Thanato Project…”

Aaron leaned against the desk, his brow furrowed.  He would have to relive watching Andrew and Katie die for something he did for the rest of his life, if he made it out alive that is.

“Honestly…” Aaron said, “The only thing I can think of, at least what keeps coming to mind, is this symbol I found.”

“Symbol?” 

Aaron nodded, “Yeah kinda odd… but as soon as I erased some of it, everything changed.  The monsters were stopped and everything seemed to become normal… I can’t really explain it.”

“Sounds like voodoo,” Matt frowned.

“Could be,” Aaron shrugged, “We escaped easily after that… Did any of you find symbols?”

Everyone shook their heads, “Doesn’t mean they weren't there in hiding, though,” Alaire suggested, “If they need the witchy symbols to keep it scary in here maybe we can find one here?”

“Worked out so well for me,” Aaron warned.

“Sorry,” Alaire said, “That was insensitive…”

“So,” Blake interrupted, “What do we want to do?”

“Well, there’s four directions we can go, none of which look particularly inviting…” Jacob said.

Aaron noted the blood stain trail that led through one of the doorways.  Yikes.

“If we do split into groups, how will we let each other know we found the exit?” Matt asked.

“We don’t have our phones and I don't see walkie talkies lying around,” Alaire said, “Let’s stick together for now?” 

“Fine with me,” Blake said, “Let’s go right first.”

Alaire cocked her head, “Why? I mean, you just seem pretty certain.”

“I have a hunch it could lead us to the room with the bathtubs.”

Above the swinging doors was a sign labeling what lay ahead, “hydrotherapy”.

Episode 21

"TAKE A SEAT"

Everyone hesitated, but eventually they filled in the conveniently numbered seats.  They were simple black folding chairs facing the glass screen.  It was like watching a movie at the theater.  

Jacob felt his back stiffen.  Poor Jane, he thought, she’d been through enough, and by the looks of it so had the other two.  His eyes stopped on the other blonde girl in one of the tubs.  Her water was turning off-pink from the fresh cuts on her body.  Something about her was familiar, though.  It was hard to tell because her eyes were closed, but he was sure he’d seen her somewhere before.

“What are their names?” Jacob asked, “The one in the middle… is Jane.”

“That’s Andrew,” Aaron said.

“And Taylor,” Blake added.

Taylor.  Jacob folded his arms across his chest.  Why was she so familiar?  

“Is that a camera?” Alaire said.

In the top right corner of the dark room looked like a security camera, pointed at them with a red blinking light.  “We saw one of those when Taylor and I were captured,” Blake said. 

Jacob shook his head, cameras too?

"BEFORE WE BEGIN"

The booming voice startled them.

"YOUR OVERALL PERFORMANCE." 

"JACOB AND MATT."

Jacob took a sharp breath, and Matt looked over at him as if to say “we’re screwed.”

"YOUR GROUP PERFORMANCE WAS ADEQUATE."

"BLAKE AND ALAIRE." 

“Adequate? Two people died,” Matt muttered. 

"YOUR GROUP PERFORMANCE WAS SUBPAR."

"AARON AND KATIE."

“Can’t decide if I’m offended or not,” Blake leaned over to Alaire.

"YOUR GROUP."

"FAILED."

“Failed?” Aaron repeated. 

"AARON.  THE FAULT WAS IN YOUR ACTIONS.  YOUR PUNISHMENT, AS SEEN FIT."

“What do they mean?” Katie asked.

Suddenly, the tub holding Andrew’s broken body started to spark.  He was being electrocuted.  His limbs and neck jolted until the sparks ceased.  

Everyone was in a panic.  Katie shrieked and covered her eyes while Aaron bellowed harsh profanities.  

“Let us out of here now!” Blake shouted.

“You guys are sick!” Matt roared

Jacob heard something click from behind them.  He slowly turned around and saw a gun attached to a moving turret.  It aimed at the back of Aaron’s head.

“Guys, stop,” Jacob said, “They’ve got us at gunpoint.  They’re definitely watching us…”

"AARON. YOU WILL CONTINUE THE PROJECT WITHOUT YOUR GROUP."

Before anyone could react or think about what the voice just said, a deafening gunshot rang, and drops of blood sprayed like a confetti popper.  Katie’s body slumped off of her seat.  

“NO! You bastards!” Aaron attempted to pick Katie up, even though it was clear she was dead.  Jacob wanted to throw up, or die, he didn't care at the moment.  The waiting in torment was harder to bear each second.  She was alive two seconds ago, and like that, gone. 

“Aaron,” Alaire’s voice quaked, “I’m so sorry but… Leave her, before they shoot you too…” 

Aaron’s eyes were filled with fire.  He looked down at Katie, and at his hands, as if unsure what to do.  His body moved fiercely in sync with his breathing.  Jacob was almost terrified of him. 

“Why!” Aaron shouted, “What did I do!”

But the voice ignored him.  Jacob couldn't help but feel suspicious, what exactly did he do?  Defeated, Aaron clenched his fists and sat back down in his chair.  No one dared to speak.

"THE DOOR TO YOUR LEFT WILL LEAD YOU TO THE FINAL TEST OF THE THANATO PROJECT."

"IF YOU DO NOT PROCEED, YOU WILL ALL FAIL."

Jane and Taylor still sat helplessly in the bathtubs that threatened to electrocute them to death.  The turret behind them clicked again.  There really was no choice.

Jacob got up first.  He walked towards the door, feeling his entire body almost collapse from shaking so terribly.  “This is messed up,” he said, “But I’m not going to sit here and die without a fight.”

Alaire stood up next, her face was contorted with fear, but also the determination Jacob was feeling as well. “For the sake of everyone who died, one of us needs to make it out of here, one of us needs to shut this place down, we can’t give up here.” 

Blake followed Alaire, “Let’s try to make it more than one of us, alright…”

Matt kept his eyes on the ground, but got to his feet, “I’m down.”

Alaire held her hand out to Aaron, who was still fuming and glaring at Katie’s poor body.  For a while he did nothing, but Alaire didn’t let her hand fall.  

“Ok,” Aaron said.

Episode 20

Blake and Alaire let the nurses wheel Taylor off.  Thank goodness, she was looking terrible, Blake thought, he owed her his life.  Alaire hadn't said a word since Blake made the call from the payphone.  They were exhausted.  Talking to the cops had been tiresome, but Blake would answer a million more questions if it meant going back home.

One of the nurses smiled sympathetically and pointed them in the direction of the waiting area.  She gave them water bottles, a pack of trail mix, and blankets.  Blake drank the entire bottle before they entered the waiting room.

His heart stopped when they entered the room, they weren’t alone.  Four rugged looking people were camping out on the pastel couches.  A man in a leather jacket was talking in hushed and stern tones to another man with thick brown hair.  A gym rat with red hair was curled up next to the arm of the couch, and another guy with glasses was deeply asleep with his mouth open.

The awake ones looked up at them expectantly.  

“Three of you?” the one in the leather jacket asked.

“I’m sorry?” Blake said.

“Were there three of you?” 

Blake narrowed his eyes, but nodded, “Yeah, one’s being treated, why?”

Leather jacket scooted over and patted the couch cushion, “Sit. We should talk.”

“Ah, well, I’d hate to get blood on the nice couches,” Blake said in a flat tone. 

Alaire looked down at her own body.  Her jeans were still bloody, and Blake looked like an escapee from a horror film; which they kind of were, Alaire thought. 

The girl with red hair spoke softly, “There’s a restroom if you want to clean up.” 

“I’d at least like to get the blood off my face,” Blake responded.  Alaire was used to Blake’s cool tone during rough situations but it was clear they’d stirred this new group just a bit.  After Blake had cleaned his face of someone else’s blood, they all gathered in the waiting room together.  For a while, they all sat awkwardly without speaking, and the one with glasses finally arose looking completely bewildered.

“Uh…hey, what’s up,” he fixed his glasses, “Looks like you’re about as giddy as we are…” 

“How long have you all been here?” Alaire asked.

“Maybe four hours,” Leather-jacket replied.

“It’s odd,” Blake started, “that we all seem to have similar situations going on here… too similar.”

Leather-jacket took something out of his pocket.  In his had was a small piece of paper with the word “each” written on it.  Both Blake and Alaire froze, feeling a shock wave of panic through their bodies.  

“You… Is this some kind of sick joke?” Blake demanded.

“No, no,” he said, “I mean yes… but we’re victims of the same game.”

“The Thanato Project?” Alaire said.

Everyone fell silent.  That’s a yes, Alaire noted.

“So it’s official, we are the fifteen poor souls,” Glasses said.

“Did any of you…” Alaire began to say.

“Some are dead, yeah.”

She flinched.  They hadn't been the only ones going through hell.  The next moments were spent with everyone sharing their experiences, along with retrieving everyone’s names.  It was a lot to remember and take in.  Each story was terrifying and unbelievable.  Alaire cringed when the man in glasses, Matt, started talking about the spiders.

“How is any of this even possible?” Blake asked, “I mean… Ghost miners? House of theatrical serial killers?”

“Theme park of killer clowns,” Aaron added.

“You guys,” Alaire stepped in, “This is obviously a trap.  I mean, how is it we all ended up at the same hospital, and not to mention the absence of supervision and staff around here?”

Aaron nodded, “I was starting to think that as soon as you two walked in…”

“We need to get out of here then,” Blake said.  He got up from the couch and started down the hall.

“Where are you going?” Alaire asked.

“To get blondie and blow this Popsicle stand.” 

He approached the wing the nurses wheeled Taylor into.  Everyone watched him as he barged through the door, but he came to a halt.  His eyes were concerned as he moved to the room right next to it, opened the door, and stopped again.  Blake speed walked down the entire hallway opening every single room.

“What’s wrong?” Alaire was starting to catch on.

“They’re gone,” he said, “No one is in any of these rooms.”

“What?” Everyone got up.

HELLO FINALISTS

That voice.  It was coming over the hospital pager, still sounding distorted and menacing.   

“Oh, hell no!” Matt groaned.

WELCOME TO THE LAST EVENT.  PLEASE PROCEED TO THE ELEVATOR IN THE LOBBY.

“How about no?” Blake said.

I WOULD RECOMMEND GOING WITH HASTE.  WE DON’T APPRECIATE QUITTERS OR CHEATERS.

“Aaron…” the red-haired girl, Katie, pulled on his arm.

Aaron, Katie, Jacob, Matt, Blake, and Alaire all begrudgingly moved into the elevator.  It was clear this whole hospital was a set-up now, and escaping was most likely an unrealistic goal.  Katie was in tears, with Aaron standing protectively next to her.  Matt was moving his arms a lot as if to get his blood flowing.  Jacob was silent and exhausted.

“For some reason… I knew it wasn't over yet,” Alaire said to Blake, “It was too easy.”

Blake scowled, “Well, we know we’re dealing with some serious people.  People with money and resources.  They even had real or fake cops escort us here.”

Alaire watched the elevator door close them inside.  A number was automatically chosen for them, and they all huddled closely together, not touching the metal walls.  The elevator moaned and started taking them down.

The elevator stopped.  Alaire’s pulse was racing.  She didn't want the doors to open, but they did, and what she saw confirmed their torment was far from over.

A dark room with six chairs set up awaited them.  There was a wall of glass, and on the other side of the glass was another room completely lit with three bathtubs filled to the brim with water, and three bodies trapped in each one.

Andrew, Jane, and Taylor.

“Oh shit…” Blake hissed.

Episode 19 Group 1 +

Alaire fell to her knees in a pool of her brother’s blood.  By the time she made her way through the maze of mirrors he was already dead.  Two, now she’d seen two dead people in her life, all in one day, and one had to be her brother.  Her lip trembled.

Her entire body was tense and she could only see red.  Average thoughts weren't even processing anymore, just a jumble of horrific images and pain.  Down the hall, she noticed several reflections of the murderer.  His painted smile and bloody arm stood mockingly in her direction.  

Alaire got to her feet.  She shifted her gaze from one of the clown’s reflections to the next, one had to be real.  He was laughing at her as she approached him.  She was too confident that they’d stopped all the clowns, and now because of her arrogance Cole was dead…

One of the reflections stood out to her.  She lifted her spear and charged.  

The spear didn't pierce glass, but flesh.  At first, Alaire was shocked.  Her purpose was to kill the clown, she knew in her heart that those dark thoughts entered her system, but once the spear actually penetrated his gut, instant regret washed over her.  The clown grunted, but kept his hideous smile as he slowly fell to the ground.

It was like she was in a terrible nightmare and suddenly woke up in a cold sweat.  It was self-defense, she wondered, the clown would've killed the rest of them if she hadn't done it, right?

She was trembling as she watched the clown die by her spear.  He kept bleeding out and twitching until his limbs went completely limp.

“What did I do…” Alaire covered her face with her hands.

“Hey.”

Alaire jumped.

Blake was coming.  He stopped by Cole’s dead body and looked up at Alaire.  He saw the clown at her feet and spear through his chest.

“I was going to ask what happened…” Blake said.

Alaire bit her lip, unsure of what to say.  She felt guilty, ashamed, justified, and powerful all at the same time.  Her insides were tearing themselves apart with the mixed emotions.  Blake approached her, cautiously, and placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Let’s get out of here.”

“But…” Alaire looked at Cole.

“I know, but it’s probably not safe in here,” Blake explained.

Alaire choked on a sob and tried to nod.  His embrace was awkward, but he put his arms around her before she crippled to the ground again.  

Alaire waited for Blake and Taylor outside the mirror maze.  Blake was carrying Taylor in his arms.  She’d lost a lot of blood and could barely open her eyes.  How terrible, Alaire clenched her fists, who could do this to these poor people.  Who wanted to torture them to this extent?

She almost didn't care if any more clowns appeared to kill her.  The three of them walked like defeated losers towards the entrance of the park without interference.  Her limbs were heavy as she pushed the turnstile.  They were out.

Needing the distance, they walked as far as they could from the park, through the large empty parking lot, and out onto the streets. 

Blake suddenly set Taylor on the sidewalk, “Payphone, have any change?” 

Alaire shook her head.  Blake went over to the phone boot anyway, cursed and punched the side of the booth.  Alaire noticed something move after the impact of Blake’s fist.

“Look,” she pointed at a Ziploc bag that had been tapped to the side, along with a note.

You made it. Time to pay up. 

Blake hesitantly took the bag and the note, it was filled with change.  He crumpled the note and shoved the coins into the slot.

“Hello.  We’re at Wonder World.  Two friends have been killed, and one is dying.  Please send help.”

WELCOME TO THE FINAL ROUND

Preview:

Blake and Alaire let the nurses wheel Taylor off.  Thank goodness, she was looking terrible, Blake thought, he owed her his life.  Alaire hadn't said a word since Blake made the call from the payphone.  They were exhausted.  Talking to the cops had been tiresome, but Blake would answer a million more questions if it meant going back home.

One of the nurses smiled sympathetically and pointed them in the direction of the waiting area.  She gave them water bottles, a pack of trail mix, and blankets.  Blake drank the entire bottle before they entered the waiting room.

His heart stopped when they entered the room.  Four rugged looking people were camping out on the pastel couches.  A man in a leather jacket was talking in hushed and stern tones to another man with thick brown hair.  A gym rat with red hair was curled up next to the arm of the couch, and another guy with glasses was deeply asleep with his mouth open.

The awake ones looked up at them expectantly.  

“Three of you?” the one in the leather jacket asked.

“I’m sorry?” Blake said.

“Were there three of you?” 

Blake narrowed his eyes, but nodded, “Yeah, one’s being treated, why?”

Leather jacket scooted over and patted the couch cushion, “Sit. We should talk.”