>>5791081Smiling, you shake your head and embark on the ballroom floor with the Count. The crowd opens as the other attendees watch the two of you take the center of attention.
“About time the lady of the hour gets up here!” Rex yells, boisterously laughing.
You struggle to keep up with the simple movements at first. Fortunately, though, the Count is a patient man who doesn’t even seem to mind when you step on his feet. In time, you’re able to keep up with the rhythm of the music. Even though you feel as though you must look a fool, it’s okay. The two of you continue following along with the ballad, surrounded by the various couples amid their own waltzes.
“AHHH!” A piercing scream from your right shocks your core and steals your attention. A noble-looking lady shrieks in terror and she is engulfed by shadows. She attempts to pat them out, twirling and spinning in vain, but to no avail. The shadows seemingly compress her. Her screaming is halted as her body collapses on itself, shattering her entire being with a grotesque squelching sound. Her dance partner recoils in shock and tries to back away, only to be swallowed up by the very same darkness that engulfed the woman next to him. One by one, each of the partygoers finds themselves swallowed. Some try to run for the exits while others plead for mercy from the Goddess. The music has halted now, replaced by the agonized and terrified screams of the ball’s participants. This was madness! None of this ever happened!
>“W-what’s going on?!” You cry, watching the scene unfurl before you. You turn to the Count for an answer, only to find yourself blinded by a terribly bright light emanating from where the Count was standing only a moment ago. As the shadows continue to spread and consume all those they meet, the light in the center of the room only grows brighter. You fall to the floor, screaming, unable to make sense of it all. The light burns out your vision, and all fades to black as the screams in the room finally fade away.“Blair?” You hear a voice call out to you gently. You know that voice. Even though it defies all logic, you know that it belongs to none other than Mercedes. “Blair? Are you okay? Take my hand.”
>A): Take Mercedes’ hand.>B): Refuse the voice. 