Chapter Five: The Name of the Game
By Richard LeBlanc
In the old abandoned subway line. The light of a new day began to slowly fade. Along the floor - the light began to pull to the side and four armed ghouls were making their way through the corridor looking for some sign of the vampire that had attempted to make it to Chamberlan.
"There is no sign of him. Do you think he baked in the sun?" one-armed ghoul asked.
"I doubt it. The master says he is still down here. He would not send us if such was not the case," another ghoul added - standing in a ray of sun. He looked up through the grates and saw the blue in the sky turning slowly darker.
"Nearing sunset. We had better hurry. He might have gotten past this spot before the trap opened. Let's move," one of the other ghouls added as they hurried towards Chamberlan. It was then that Calloway fell down from behind one of the rusted roof doors that had opened. He was gasping and panting.
For the better part of what had to be eight hours - he had to remain perfectly still - holding himself up between the wall and the door. He looked at his arm that was bleeding again. Part of him told him to return to Eco and find another way to the Malkavian he was hunting. Unfortunately he knew he didn't have that kind of time.
"That punk played me," Calloway muttered as he concentrated on his wounded arm.
"That was so hard to do for him. I mean you do have a poker face that is carved in cheese," Luther the ghost remarked. Calloway growled as he looked at the ghost that was taunting him from the sunlight.
"I have work to do - so please - feel free to be elsewhere," he offered as he made his way through the subway line - hugging the wall - doing everything in his power to avoid the sun.
"I bet you must be hungry - not to mention sleepy. Why not take a nap? I'll tell you if the bad guys are back stepping," the ghost offered with a smirk.
"I'll pass," Calloway rebutted. He looked up at the holes in the roof. "What the?" he muttered. Slowly he stepped away from the wall - and moved his hand into the light. Nothing happened. "That isn't the sunlight at all," he almost growled.
"Nope - had you fooled though," a voice remarked. He looked ahead and saw the ghouls had returned. A muffled shot lifted the Follower of Set up and knocked him against the wall.
"You know - normally you could take down punks like this sleeping - but as you have been awake for so long and haven't eaten," the ghost mocked. Calloway growled as he drew his daggers and leaped at his enemies.
The sounds of automatic weapons filled the old tunnels as the fight raged on.
Several minutes later - the tunnels were silent.
Back where Calloway was - all of the ghouls had almost been completely drained of all blood. The vampire was still out of it from the lack of sleep - but at least he wasn't starving.
"Problem one dealt with," Calloway began. It was then that his eyes began to space out. "What the?" she strained as reality around him seemingly warped. He staggered and fell to the ground. He looked around and watched amazed at how the colors seemed to bleed into each other. Everything looked blurry.
"Lack of sleep can mess up the best of us," a familiar voice stated. Calloway leaped up to his feet - tried to lash out at the disembodied form that was talking - but was effortlessly knocked back down. "Add to that a tainted blood supply - like blood laced with heavy doses of hallucinogens and you have a heavy recipe for fucked up snake," the voice added. He felt hands grab his head. The form slowly took on the form of a doctor.
"I will kill you for this Jest," Calloway hissed. The doctor smiled.
"I doubt that. In fact - I think we are going to get along swimmingly. Night-night," Doctor Jest concluded as he punched Calloway in the face knocking him out.
How much time had passed - Calloway couldn't know. But slowly he began to stir from a mix of pain - withdrawal and nausea. He rolled over and forced himself to sit up. he looked down at his arm - it was bleeding again. His eyes slowly drifted into focus.
"You have got to be fucking joking," he muttered to himself. Near as he could tell - he was still underground - but before him was something that could only be described as a psychotic circus. He forced himself up to his feet. "Weapons," he muttered. He patted himself down - every weapon he had was gone. "Bastard," he slurred.
"He walks he wakes - he wants to play. But if he wants the Doc - he has to pay!" the voice of Doctor Jest mocked over several speakers. Calloway muttered a curse to himself. He played the Mook's game on his terms.
"What do you want freak?" Calloway called out.
"Oh - I already have what I want cupcake - I have you. As you are new here - allow me to give you a quick walkthrough as to where we are - and what could happen if you aren't careful," the distorted voice began.
"Joy," Calloway muttered as he looked around. The place was pretty lit up - but not in the way a normal circus should be.
"You see - this is my special haven. Only special people get to see this place," he continued. Calloway rolled his eyes as he leaned against the wall behind him.
"I feel so blessed," he sarcastically muttered.
"As well you should. This is where some of my more - complex - intricate experiments are carried out. Many a kindred hath visited these hallowed grounds - few to none ever leave - and those that do - are never quite the same," the voice echoed.
"You must be in love with the sound of your voice," Calloway remarked. He looked to the tunnel behind him. the way was barred and hummed as though electrified.
"OH - I see you noticed. The way you came is sort of off limits. If you try to leave that way - well - burnt snake bits. Now - as you called this dance - I should explain a few things one - I could have killed you in the tunnel by Eco - but what would I have learned from that?" the voice seriously asked.
"You would have learned a serious lesson - that dead enemies don't get the chance to kill you back," Calloway remarked. Laughter echoed throughout the underground circus.
"You are too precious. Just to warn you - this place is designed to - test - you. Granted there will be no grading curb - you either pass or fail. To take part in a test - you have but to open a door and enter," his foe pointed out.
"Suppose I don't want to play?" Calloway stubbornly asked.
"Well - there have been a few that opted for that route - they went hungry real fast. Ended up taking the testes in a weakened state and well - poof. To be perfectly fair - pass enough tests - learn enough lessons - and you will be rewarded - not only with escape from my playground - but with a special prize from my collection," the voice answered.
"How many prizes have you parted with?" Calloway asked.
"Well - since I started this game up almost a hundred years ago - none. A few people came close - but dropped the ball. Got arrogant or some shit like that. Oh my - it sounds to me like you are considering playing the game," the voice commented.
"Do I have a choice?" he asked.
"All of us have choices. Even in this place. Right ones and wrong ones. Do something - do nothing. All in perspective," the voice pointed out.
"All so black and white," Calloway remarked as he made his way forward.
"Don't forget the shades of gray. They are very important. Now - as you have things to do and things to learn. I will leave you to your quest. Good luck snake - you are going to need it," the voice said as the speakers crackled and then began to play old circus music.
"Hall of broken Mirrors to my left - a Haunted House to my right - and a Ball Pit before me," he muttered as he looked to the three directions and choices. "Ball Pit it is," he muttered as he pushed the door open. Once he was fully in. the door slammed shut locking him in.
To Be Continued...
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