Betrayal at House on the Hill

[angelcage]

[ You sleep, the ground cold beneath your cheek. The ground is hard as stone, cold marble beneath a fine layer of dust that doesn't come anywhere near acting as a cushion. The dust stirs with your breathing.


>> Wake up ]

Comments

[angelcage]

[ The amulet Miles holds warms as the both of you enter the room. The atmosphere dissipates— no longer oppressive.

You can no longer feel it at all.

There's no other doors. But in the center of the pentagram, a girl lies— bound. Alone. Trapped. Her eyes are blindfolded, and she's breathing hard her wriggling in place getting more frantic at the sound of you opening the door. ]

[withintreason]

[ i absolutely expected this ]

. . .

What's this . . .

[ mmmmmm MMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMM

stepping closer i guess ]

[angelcage]

[ She struggles harder, still blindfolded, still bound. ]

[withintreason]

[ mm

is she gagged ]

You. Can you understand me?

[angelcage]

[ She whimpers.

She's not gagged, but she's still slow to respond— eventually, she very carefully nods her head. ]

[withintreason]

[ hmm ]

Who's the one who bound you? Is it the same person who's trapped us all in this mansion?

[angelcage]

[ In a weak voice, she answers: ]

I don't know.

I didn't see.

But please, untie me.

I don't want to die here.

I don't want to die.

[ Her answers are short, coming in halting pauses. She's crying. ]

[withintreason]

[ why are humans so ]

This had better not be a trap. Understand that if you make the slightest false move, I'll cut you down before you can blink.

[angelcage]

Please don't. . . [ Deep breaths, to stop herself from hyperventilating ]

Please don't hurt me. [ In the same small voice, she agrees: ]

I know.

It isn't.

[withintreason]

[ takes a moment or two, watching her, and clicks her teeth - before moving to cut the bonds with her blade. ]

[angelcage]

[ She stiffens, still unable to see as Mordred's blade cuts her free. When her hands are free, the first thing she does is move them up to her blindfold, and yank it down.

She turns to look at Mordred. Her and her awful burns, her sleepwalking partner.

Then— at the door behind them. No one else coming it through it, not yet. ]

We can't stay here.

There's. . .

I heard about a ritual.

[withintreason]

Obviously, you were part of one.

[angelcage]

[ She shakes her head. ]

Not yet.

They needed. . .

I'm not sure. [ She hangs her head. ] I think he thought I was passed out.

But something about rats.

[withintreason]

[ ???? ]

Rats?

[angelcage]

[ She nods ]

Someone can control them?

And summon them.

I don't understand why. . .

But he needed them.

[withintreason]

[ . . . thoughtful, for a moment ]

And he's returning here - to sacrifice you, presumably.

[ . . .

turns, to leave ]

[angelcage]

[ Unbound, she staggers to her feet to follow. ]

You can still. . .

You can stop his ritual!

[withintreason]

And why should I?

[angelcage]

Do you want to die?

[ She sounds almost incredulous. ]

[withintreason]

Of course, I won't die. There isn't anything powerful enough to kill me here.

[angelcage]

[ She looks at her burns anxiously and doesn't say anything at all. ]

[dendarii]

She's right on some level. We've already been through quite a lot. I'd say we'll be fine here.

[angelcage]

Even if he finishes the ritual?

[ She twists her hands, anxiously. ]

[dendarii]

We'll stop him first, of course. And deal with the rest after.

[angelcage]

Alright.

[ She looks down at her feet, then sets her jaw. ]

I can't fight.

But if I can.

I'll help.