The entire room goes into panic mode when the killer reveals himself. Some try to struggle out of their restraint while some try to hide beneath the crowd

Royalty: This can't be happening?!

Royalty 2: WHY IS THE KILLER HERE!

Suddenly Cessair takes his sickle and scraps it against a window, creating an irritating sound that gets the room to go into silence finally

Cessair: Now that I have everyone's attention, I'll make this simple, you will all die but I want to make this night special... for all of us...

He slowly puts one of his sickles away and then starts to pace around while spinning his second sickle around

Cessair: Each of you will split into different groups... depending on if any of you have my... friends interest... and we'll have our fun making you all squeal

Butcher: Heh! Oh, I've been needing to restock on some meat...

As the announcement continued, Drake's mind was clouded with disarray about the situation. All of his plans had crumbled, leaving him filled with a sense of hopelessness and rage

Drake: Wha- No- This isn't fair! Things weren't supposed to be this way!- I haven't even started my business-

Suddenly Butcher swings his long cleaver blade, cutting across Drake's cheek to which he screams in pain

Butcher: Cessair missed on purpose before... if you don't keep quiet then I'll do the kill for him...

Drake: W-What kind of sick joke is this? We did nothing-

Cessair: You really want to deny everyone after what just happened, "diddy?" Ha! Boy, you are the worst one that I ever saw!

Drake: ...

Cessair: Unfortunately... You don't even top... what you have done...

He points his sickle at Alyssa who begins to have chills crawl up her back while Rachel is confused by his response

Cessair: Hello Alyssa... remember me?

Alyssa: N-No... I never met you in my-

Cessair: DON'T PRETEND THAT YOU DON'T KNOW!

Suddenly Cessair brings his sickle around Alyssa's neck, making her quiet as anger was boiling within the killer

Cessair: You have no idea how long I have been waiting to see you so I can slit that throat of yours...

Alyssa: I have done nothing wrong, it's my husband's fault!

Cessair: Putting the blame on someone else... glad to see you didn't change...

Alyssa: Y-You want an apology then I'm sorry! I-I promise that I'll change! I swear!

Cessair: Oh? You're sorry? Then what exactly are you apologizing for?

Alyssa remains silent as she can't find an answer that would satisfy the madman which Cessair only responds with a simple chuckle

Cessair: Of course, you don't know... you only remember me for what I did to you before...

Alyssa: Y-You destroyed my life before! Wasn't that enough?!

Cessair: Oh... no, no, no... I destroyed "his" life... and I see you've managed to build your selfish life up again... so now I plan to destroy it again... Including this one...

He turns his attention over to Rachel and crouches down as he brings his sickle to her cheeks to get a good look at her. She felt fear in her but still kept her ground to confront the killer

Cessair: I'll admit, I didn't expect you to be the daughter of this bitch... and never thought she would make one...

Rachel: ...I don't know what my mother did to you but leave me out of this!

Cessair throws his head back and lets out a chilling laugh, the sound echoing through the room, amplifying the terror.

Cessair: Leave you out of this? My dear Rachel, you are the culmination of her sins, the living, breathing reminder of what she took from me. You are her legacy! How could I possibly leave you out of it?

Rachel: I may be her daughter but it doesn't mean I'm everything she is!

Cessair: Oh, you think you're different? That you're somehow untouched by her... taint? You misunderstand, child. It isn't about being the same. It's about being connected. Every choice she made, every lie she told, every life she ruined... it ripples through you. It's in your blood

Rachel: My blood?-

Cessair: Yes... I don't know if you planned to get together with your fiancée but I can't allow the bloodline of that bitch spread... A shame really, I did enjoy you and your fiancee a lot...

Rachel: ... Why do you hate her to this much extent that you'll be willing to wipe out a bloodline?...

Cessair's grip tightened on his sickle and leans close to Rachel with his eyes burning with a cold fury

Cessair: Hate? Hate is a pale word for what I feel. She didn't just wrong me, she carved a hole in my existence, a wound that festers every single day. You ask why I hate her so much...? Because she stole everything from me! My family, my happiness, my future... all for her own selfish gain!

He slams his sickle into the wall, scaring everyone in the room as he slowly scrapes the wall, letting out all of his anger

Cessair: And the worst part? She erased me. Like I was nothing. Like my life, my pain meant absolutely nothing to her! She built her empire on the ashes of everyone's dreams! Have you ever questioned how she became a Royalty?! How she own many businesses without any fallouts from it?! Or the fact that I became this because of her?!

The room was silent, only the heavy breathing of the captives broke the tension. The revelation Cessair laid bare was monstrous, a twisted origin story fueled by unimaginable pain and betrayal. Rachel's eyes widened in horror, and she didn't dare to speak as she was getting a clearer perspective from his side. She turns to her mother as she only has one thing in mind

Rachel: ... What did you do?...

Alyssa: I-I did no such thing to this... monster!

Cessair: Of course you won't tell... If she won't tell you then I'll everyone here a little bedtime story before I put you all to sleep forever. About the "other" mate she had

Alyssa: NO!

Cessair let out a dry, humorless chuckle, moving away from Rachel as he walked toward the center of the room for everyone to see

Cessair: Once upon a time... there was a little farmer named Cessair...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

14 years ago:

?: Honey! I made you some lunch!

Cessair: Coming!

On a little farm, Cessair concluded his day by cutting the last group of crops. He made his way to his wife, greeting her with a tender kiss. Together, they turned their eyes toward their farm, a sense of deep contentment and appreciation filling the air as they cherished the life they'd built together

Eva: We came a long way haven't we?...

Cessair: Yeah, if we can keep this up for a couple more years... I'd say we have a good retirement ahead of us...

Eva let out a small giggle and leaned against Cessair, resting against his shoulder

Eva: Retirement... Imagine, Cessair. No more waking up before dawn to tend the fields. Just... us. Maybe a little cottage by the sea

Cessair: If that's what you want, we can make it happen! As long as you're by my side

Eva: I will always be... and maybe... if possible... we could have a ki-

?: Well ain't she a beauty

They both turn to the voice to see two familiar faces that they're aware of, Saint Edward and his fiancee Alyssa, who were Royalties that sell landscapes. Eva quickly hides behind Cessair who starts to get protected by the unexpected guest

Cessair Hello, Edwa-

Edward: That's SIR! Edward to you!

Cessair: ... Sorry, Sir Edward... what brings you here?-

Edward: Oh my fiancee here caught the attention of this place... not sure why...

Suddenly Alyssa approaches them, more specifically towards Eva, looking from head to toe until letting out a small smirk

Alyssa: I want her. She will be my handmaiden

Eva: What...

With this unexpected declaration, Cessair's blood ran cold which he quickly stepped forward

Cessair: She is my wife, your Highness... She is not for sale."

Edward: On please, everything has a price, peasant. Name it

Cessair: I'm sorry sir, but I have no plans selling her ever... but we can sell you some crops or vegetables we are grow-

Alyssa: Why would I want you peasant foods... now I want my handmaiden...

Edward: You heard her...

He snaps his finger and suddenly a group of guards approaches the couple. Cessair tightens his grip on Eva's hand as he feels Eva shaking in fear

Cessair: G-GET AWAY!

He pulls out his sickles and starts swinging around to scare the guards off. Unfortunately, he is immediately pinned to the ground by two guards while two others seize Eva and start to drag her way

Eva: LET ME GO! CESSAIR!

Cessair: EVA!

They both struggle to escape to no avail as all Cessair can do is watch as Eva is put into the vehicle and Alyssa and Edward turn to walk away but before they leave Edward turns back to him to say one thing

Edward: If you want her back, you better have enough money that'll satisfy us...

Cessair: EVA!

He turns away and enters the vehicle with his fiancee as Cessair continues to scream out to Eva but it isn't long till one of the guards that was holding him down, knocks him out

After what felt like minutes, he finally woke up to find out it was night and was left alone. He staggered to his feet, ignoring the pain throbbing in his head except the chilling words ringing in his head: "Enough money that'll satisfy us..." He looked around their small farm, the symbol of their hard work and dreams, now feels like a husk with Eva gone.

Cessair: No... no, no, no... I... I can fix this... I can buy her back... that's what he said... I'll get her back!... I have to get her back!

He stumbled towards the house, desperation fueling his steps. Inside, everything felt wrong, tainted by the violation of their peaceful lives. He ran to their small savings chest, digging through it with frantic hands. A few coins, enough for supplies, but nowhere near enough to satisfy the greed of Edward and Alyssa, but he knew it was a start.

Soon enough, he started selling everything he had left, the few livestock he hadn't yet lost, his tools, even the small, hand-carved trinkets Eva had gifted him over the years. He scraped together every penny, every farthing, driven by the single, unwavering goal: to buy Eva's freedom. Days turned into weeks, each one an agonizing eternity. One by one everything he had built that was cherished with Eva was gone in order to get enough money

Cessair: Almost there... I'll have enough money... to save you... just wait a bit longer...

3 years have passed, and Cessair counts the money that he has made and realizes he has done it. He stares in disbelief that he can only cry, realizing he can finally see his wife again. Without any hesitation, he takes the money he has made and sprints toward the Royalty's home

Cessair: Wait for me, Eva! I'm gonna bring you home!

Cessair arrived at the gates of the Royalty's estate, his heart pounding against his ribs. He approached the guards stationed at the gate, his hands clutching the heavy pouch of money

Cessair: I'm here to see Sir Edward! I have what he wants

The guards exchanged skeptical glances, sizing up the ragged figure before them

Guard: And what makes you think Sir Edward has time for the likes of you?

Cessair. Tell him Cessair is here! Tell him I have the money he asked for. He'll know what it means

After a moment of hesitation, the guard relented, disappearing into the estate to deliver the message. Cessair stood there, his body trembling with anticipation and a flicker of fear. He had no idea what to expect, what state Eva would be in after three years. Time stretched on, each second an eternity until finally, the guard returned, his expression unreadable

Cessair: Sir Edward will see you

He allows the broken farmer inside where he runs to the doorway where Sir Edward, with a glass of wine in his hand, and Alyssa stood by his side, waiting for him by the doorway

Edward: Well, well, well... Didn't expect you to-

Cessair: I have it! I have the money that will satisfy you both! Please give my wife back!

He tosses the bag of money which Alyssa catches and starts to count it only to find out it is enough

Alyssa: Well what do you know? You really did make enough money! Welp, as promised... bring her here

Alyssa snaps her finger as joy was filled within Cessair as he waits for his wife to reunite with him but the joy fades away as they bring in a large bag and toss it in front of him

Cessair: W-What's this...

Edward: You're wife as promised...

Cessair stared at the bag, a cold dread creeping into his heart, slowly turning to overwhelming dread. His hands trembled as he reached for the drawstring, his fingers fumbling with the knot. He hesitated, a primal fear gripping him, but the need to know, to see Eva, drove him forward. With a final, shuddering breath, he pulled the bag open.

The sight that greeted him shattered the last vestiges of hope within him. Inside the bag was Eva's lifeless corpse and her eyes stared blankly ahead at him. A scream ripped from Cessair's throat, a sound of pure, unadulterated anguish that echoed through the estate. He fell to his knees, his body wracked with sobs, his mind unable to comprehend the horror before him

Cessair: E-Eva... no... NO!

He reached out, his fingers tracing the cold, still features of her face, whispering her name over and over again. Edward chuckled, swirling the wine in his glass while Alyssa looked at Cessair in annoyance

Edward: A bit dramatic, don't you think? We fulfilled our end of the bargain. You wanted your wife back, didn't you?

Alyssa: she was a decent handmaiden but unfortunately she needed to be punished... but guess she couldn't handle it *chuckles* how unfortunate...

Soon Edward and Alyssa burst out laughing but all Cessair could hear was ringing from his ears. The world around him faded away, replaced by a blinding white-hot fury that consumed him entirely. The image of Eva's peaceful face, the memory of her gentle laughter, flashed before his eyes, fueling the fire within. He looked up at Edward and Alyssa, their faces contorted with amusement, their eyes devoid of any remorse. At that moment, something inside Cessair snapped. The years of hard work, the dreams of a quiet retirement, and the love he shared with Eva, all reduced to this grotesque spectacle. The pain was unbearable

Edward: Now that you have your wife back, how about you-

Suddenly his sentence is cut off with a sickle in his throat. He choked, his eyes widening in disbelief as the blood gurgled and Cessair slowly stood up straight with anger in his eye as his hair color slowly faded into black. Soon that anger turned into a smile and then into laughter

Cessair: This is... quite funny... seeing your pathetic disbelief expression...

He yanked the sickle free, the metallic tang of blood filling the air, hitting Alyssa in the face to which she let out a loud scream and alerted the guards

Alyssa: Y-You monster!!

Cessair: Awww, what's the matter? Afraid to get your punishment?

He slowly approaches Alyssa as she scrambles back with her eyes wide with terror. He no longer felt sadness but joy seeing the one, who took his purpose away from him, in fear, but before he could swing at her, the guards finally arrived at the scene

Guard: Stand down or you will be executed!

Cessair turned his gaze towards the guards, his face smeared with blood, a chilling smile still plastered on his lips. The sickle dripped crimson in his hand, a macabre extension of his will.

Cessair: Executed? *laughs* Is that all you got? Do you think you can frighten me with death? I've already lived through mine!

Before the guards could react, Cessair moved with a speed that belied his ragged appearance. He hurled the sickle, spinning through the air, directly at the closest guard. One by one, the guards fell and their bodies joined the gruesome tableau on the floor but after the last one fell, he turned to where Alyssa once was, is now gone

Cessair: *huff* huff* Alyssa!!! You can't from me forever!

Soon began in man-hunt for her, leading him to kill everything that stood in his way. Cessair stormed through the estate, a whirlwind of fury and steel. Every servant, every guard, every unfortunate soul who crossed his path met the same brutal end. His laughter echoed through the halls, a chilling counterpoint to the screams of the dying.

Within a few hours, the entire place was in ablaze, nothing was left as Cessair stood afar watching, not satisfied enough with what he'd done since he never found Alyssa at all. He turned away with a new purpose in mind

Cessair: From this day forward... All Royalties will die...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This story is interrupted by a chibi Cessair looking down on Eva's grave

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Present time:

Cessair: And throughout his crusade, he met a bunch of other victims that were willing to join him on this journey... which leads us to now... a happy... little... ending...

He slowly stands back to his feet with a wicked smile on his face as Rachel is in disbelief about finding out what her mother was

Rachel: I-I knew she was bad... but... not like this...

Cessair: Now you're seeing the big picture... So to answer your question before yes Rachel, I hate her. With every fiber of my being. And you, you are her heir. The living embodiment of her twisted legacy.

Rachel: So now... you want to kill me... because of what she did?

Cessair: It's not just about what she did, Rachel. It's about what she represented. The callous disregard for human life, the entitlement that comes with royalty... It's a disease that needs to be eradicated. And you, unfortunately, are a carrier

Rachel: No... I'm nothing like her! Nothing at all!

Cessair: You can't continue to say that... but it doesn't mean you won't become her sooner or later. Or maybe you have and never realized it. Tell me, how many times have you paid someone to be with you? How many times have you failed to realize someone needs your help? Or importantly... how many times have you relied on your family name to get where you are?

Rachel's face crumpled, the fight momentarily draining from her eyes. Cessair's words hit her hard, forcing her to confront the unexpected truths. She had always tried to distance herself from her mother's actions, but had she truly escaped her influence? Had the privilege she'd been born into subtly shaped her into something she despised? She remained silent as she couldn't give an answer to which Cessair just simply chuckled

Cessair: Finally realizing how pathetic your bloodline is... just like her mother...

With everything being told for everyone to hear, the crowd soon becomes enraged and turns their anger toward Rachel and Alyssa

Royalty: So he became this because of you?!

Alyssa: N-No I-

Royalty 2: This is all your fault that we're gonna die!

As the crowd continues to yell in anger while Alyssa tries to plead herself innocent but to no avail. Soon her desperation turns to anger that her reputation is now ruined and looks at Rachel

Alyssa: You... This is all your fault!

Rachel: W-What-

Alyssa: You ruined everything! You brought him here! You exposed me!

Rachel: I didn't-

Alyssa: SHUT YOUR MOUTH, YOU STUPID BITCH! YOU JUST HAD TO ASK, DIDN'T YOU? YOU HAD TO PRY OPEN OLD WOUNDS AND EXPOSE EVERYTHING! NOW LOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE! YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A DISGRACE! MAYBE I SHOULD'VE LEFT YOU OUT TO THE POOR, YOU MISTAKEN CHILD!

Rachel found herself in stunned silence after her mother's harsh words cut through her like a blow. The raw hatred in Alyssa's voice shattered Rachel's carefully maintained composure, leaving her feeling exposed and vulnerable. The anger of those around them faded into insignificance, overshadowed by the deafening sense of betrayal that engulfed her. The weight of guilt was heavy on her shoulders, but now, with her mother's rage pressing down on her, Rachel felt as if she had lost all concern for her own fate

With everything happening Cessair couldn't help but laugh at this revelation which got everyone to go silent again

Cessair: Well, well, well... This is getting better and better! A daughter who disowns her mother in the face of death... and a mother who's probably wishing she swallowed you the day she had you. This is almost as good as the main event. Almost...

He turns his attention to Alyssa again and her expression changes from anger to fear as she becomes desperate

Alyssa: P-Please there's gotta be something to avoid this! J-Just take my daughter's life! Won't that be more satisfying for you-

Cessair's laughter intensified, echoing through the hall until calming down and wiping a tear from his eye

Cessair: Oh, Alyssa, Alyssa... you never cease to amaze me. The lengths you'll go to save your own skin... it's truly inspiring, in a profoundly disturbing way. But unfortunately, that's not how this works

He stepped closer to Alyssa with his eyes gleaming an unsettling mixture of amusement and contempt

Cessair: Everyone here has the power to be something, the ability to change the world... yet they become something meaningless as you. It's not just about revenge against you, Alyssa. It's about making an example. About showing everyone what happens when power is abused, when empathy is discarded, and when selfishness reigns supreme. Taking your daughter's life right away wouldn't send the right message. It would be too easy. Too quick... I want to make sure they feel every type of pain they have put everyone through...

Alyssa: N-No... please... I'll do anything! Just... just don't kill me! I'll give you money, power, land... anything! Just name your-

Cessair: YOU CAN'T REPLACE WHAT HAS BEEN DESTROYED!!!

Out of instant anger, he swings his sickle across Alyssa's cheek, making her bleed as Cessair only looks at her in sadness and anger

Cessair: ... For every pain you'll feel, will avenge everything you took! My home... My life... My dear wife... You created a broken man... and now... I'll break everything that you are... and then your family... but first

He walks over to Butcher with a blank expression on his face and rests a hand firmly on his shoulder

Cessair: We have a couple of intruders coming here so if you can do me a favor and inform the other to stop them...

Butcher: Sure but you better be making this an excuse to have some extra people

Cessair: Oh don't worry, I'll make sure you all will have your enjoyment on killing these Royalties

Butcher: Good...

Cessair: Oh and one more thing... you may kill the Royalties that are with the intruders... but spare the ones who are not. Just knock them out or whatever

Butcher: Very well...

He turns away and exits the room while Cessair turns back to the Royalties as he pulls out his second sickle and a smile grows back onto his face

Cessair: Now let us begin the divide... and then... the real party~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, the group continues to run down the hall, searching through every room trying to find Rachel to no avail

Vivian: She's not in here!

Cassie: Neither in here!

Tadayoshi: Damnit, where is that pervert?

BeatBox: Man! Matter of fact, why is every room in here a bedroom?!

Kiryu: Actually yeah... why-

Suddenly he stops himself when he puts the pieces together on why which causes the group's face to curl in disgust as they figure it out as well

Alex: Well... that might confirm he doesn't have a basement if he planned to have his "business" just out in the open...

Kiryu: And it might explain why he owns a manor...

Vivian: ... I don't get it?

Cassie: Is he always this much of a sicko?

Tadayoshi: Not really, he just went off the deep end-

Kiryu: Let's just move off-topic and-

?: RUN!

The group turns behind them to see someone running toward them in fear but they quickly recognize him once they get a good view of him

Cassie: That's Rachie's dad

Tadayoshi: God damnit, I told that butler to keep them out of this...

Harold: They're here! They're here!

BeatBox: They're here? What is he talking about?

For some strange reason, both Vivian and Alex had an irking feeling that they slowly started to pull out their weapons

Alex: ... I have a bad feeling about this...

Harold: The Royalty killers! The killers are-

Suddenly something strikes behind Harold, cutting him which surprises the group. Harold collapses onto the ground in pain, revealing two female figures

Knives: Cannibal! Remember what he said!

Cannibal: I know I know, don't kill any of the Fleur family members yet

She licks the blood off his fingers until the two killers notice the group that quickly pulls out their weapons

Knives: Oh? They must be the intruders the boss was talking about.

Cannibal: Hooray! More meat to feast!

It wasn't long till some of the group quickly realized who they were which caused their skin to crawl, realizing the situation was now much worse

BeatBox: Hey wait... Those are the Royalty killers!

Cassie: Wait... the Royalty killers?... Does that mean the Regicide killer is here?!

Tadayoshi: The what?

BeatBox: Dude? Do you not pay attention to the news at all?

Tadayoshi: I only heard about the name, I don't know anything about them

Knives: *giggles* Nice to see they know us! Unfortunately, we're told to keep you away while the boss organizes our fun for all of us! So if you could, walk away from this

Cannibal: Please say no... I'm very hungry...

Kiryu steps forward a bit with his fist clenching his katana and flips his thumb to open his blade out a bit

Kiryu: Sorry, but we have a friend to save and if you gotta be in the way... so be it...

Knives: Oooh daring aren't we?

Harold: *groan*

Cannibal: Oh! He's still alive! Then I can-

Before Cannibal could finish her sentence, Vivian appears in front of Cannibal, smacking her across the face with her mace and swinging her flying across the hall

Vivian: You should not hurt anyone you big bully!

Knives: Cannibal!

She pulls out knives and goes to shank Vivian but quickly reacts and blocks an oncoming attack from Alex

Alex: You alright sure?

Harold: I... live...

He crawls to the wall to gather himself, while Alex pushes Knives away as Vivian chases the Cannibal who was knocked back

BeatBox: Gals!

Alex: You guys go find Rachel! We'll handle this!

Vivian: Yeah! I can finally use my weapon!

Tadayoshi opened his mouth to protest, worrying about Alex and Vivian but Kiryu grabbed him by the shoulder, stopping him

Kiryu: Trust Vivian and Alex. You know can handle themselves

Tadayoshi: ... Yeah... You better not get killed, you two!

Alex: I won't!

With that, Kiryu, Tadayoshi, BeatBox, and Cassie turned and continued down the hallway, the sounds of the brewing fight echoing behind them. With Cassie kept glancing back, her face etched with worry

Cassie: Are you sure we should leave them?

Kiryu: We don't have a choice, Rachel's life is on the line if the killers are here. We can't afford to get bogged down in a fight if we're about to deal with something much worse!

BeatBox Besides, those two seemed itching for a fight. Let 'em have their fun!

Tadayoshi: Just how much worse is this Regicide killer-

Suddenly something bursts through the wall and tackles Cassie into another room which causes the group to stop once again

BeatBox: Cassie!

Tadayoshi: Damnit! Now what?!

The guys quickly peek through the room where Cassie was tackled to reveal another killer, holding out a dagger while her face was blushing

Mara: Oh my I caught myself a Royalty! How lucky! And tragic~

Kiryu: Ok, how many killers are there?!

Mara goes to strike Cassie to which Tadayoshi goes to throw his spear but before he can Cassie summons her weapon, parrying her and then smacking her across the face

Cassie: Go on ahead without me! I'm sure you guys will be able to save Rachie!

Tadayoshi: Cassie, don't be reckless-

Cassie: Tadayoshi, please! I already relied on you once, I don't want to do it again... Let me prove I can finally handle myself!

Tadayoshi: ... Don't make me regret this...

Cassie: I won't...

She turned back with her eyes blazing with determination while Mara, still reeling from the unexpected blow, grinned wickedly, twirling her dagger

Mara: Oh, a feisty one! This will be much more fun than I anticipated. Hopefully tragically as well~

Tadayoshi cast one small worried glance at the room where Cassie stood, her weapon held high, before turning and following the guys down the hall

BeatBox: Man... this is gettin' real... also you've been showing a lot of concern lately, Tadayoshi?

Tadayoshi: I don't wish to repeat history...

Kiryu: ?

Finally, they reached the end of the hallway. There, unlike the repetitive bedrooms, was a large, reinforced door, sealed shut with heavy bolts and a complex locking mechanism

Kiryu: They're definitely in here... and looks locked...

BeatBox: Don't worry guys! I've got this!

He quickly takes a few steps back to get a running start then charges at the door with his fist pulled back for a punch. However before BeatBox could swing, the door unexpectedly burst open and a new killer burst out with his weapons. BeatBox, caught off guard, stumbles over and barely avoids an incoming attack

Butcher: Damn, already going for the kill?

Soon the last killer steps out of the doorway, revealing himself to be Butcher as the other killer that tried to attack BeatBox turns back to him

Rive: You have any idea how long I've been waiting to meat the music royalty...

Butcher: Yeah, Yeah... I'm going to assume the others are on hold... but no matter

Butcher swings his cleaver blade at Tadayoshi but Kiryu quickly draws his blade and blocks the attack, surprising him

Kiryu: Sorry but we're in a hurry

Butcher: Oh please we have plenty of time! Let's see if your muscle would be great to cook!

They both break away from their clash and then leap at each other again with their fight starting. Meanwhile, Rive making a finger gun pose behind Tadayoshi but BeatBox quickly punches him across the face, smashing him through the wall

BeatBox: Guess this will be our stop as well! It's up to you now, bro!

Tadayoshi: *sigh* Seems to be... You guys can handle this?

Kiryu: Yeah! Just be careful man!

Tadayoshi: *mutters* I should be telling you two that...

He grits his teeth, pushing past the flaring energy of the fight between Kiryu and Butcher, and BeatBox and Rive. He steps through the doorway, his spear held, now being the only one to search for Rachel

Tadayoshi: "You better stay alive, Rachel... I still want my paycheck!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Art:

Diana offering you a warm latte during a winter storm

My sis fanart of my art