The players looked confused at Pomni, who was reasonably crashing the f(beep) out.
"Pomni? You ok?" Ragatha stepped closer.
"This place is literally hell!" The jester shook, looking up at Kinger.
"Oh hey, this manor is pretty nice." He sounded like he was smiling, but all that made Pomni do was roll her eyes. Because of course Kinger didn't remember this place.
"Oh come on, don't be suck a baby Pomni. This place is a total joke." Jax patted the jester on the head, like an owner to a dog.
"Y-you know, Pomni didn't experience a-are adventure last t-time." Gangle spoke out. "She-she and Kinger went d-down the scary path." Ragatha and Jax nodded, finally remembering.
"Huh, oh well." Jax laughed as he started walking further. Once all players stepped deep enough, a watch appeared on their wrists. A timer of ten minutes started counting down.
"Come on, lets go explore and look for places to hide." Zooble encouraged Gangle forward as they ventured deeper. Jax went on his own, as well as Kinger. Leaving Ragatha, Twinkle, and Pomni together.
"Pomni, you went to a different level last time you were here right? Do you think you could show us?" Twinkle asked, stepping closer.
"Huh?" Pomni looked up with scattered eyes, finally snapping out of it.
"Hey, she's got a point." Ragatha chimed in. "Only you know the rest of the map Pomni, since Kinger cant remember. If we take five minutes each, both of us can explain the layout! And that way we have a better chance at winning." The rag doll seemed a little to excited as she explained her plan.
"Whoa, that's pretty sneaky Ragatha." Twinkle chuckles as she patted the doll's back, making her blush.
"Y-you think so? I mean, just since it seems like the smartest move. Plus, I don't wanna see what Jax wants." All three girls nodded, before Pomni started to lead them down a long, spiral staircase.
"I-I'm gonna guess this is the right way down." Ragatha was impressed. The tiny jester was acting much braver than usual, although she still jumped a few times when a stair would creak.
The trio entered a dark and terrifying sitting room. The fireplace barely lit, making shadows turn into figures.
"Holy sh(beep), this place is creepy" Twinkle commented, looking at the monster visions of everyone's heads on the wall. Pomni took a small moment to hyperventilate before calming down.
They walked around the small home like setting. Pomni explained each room, how lights shut off, and especially the hell below. It took almost five minutes to find the elevator shaft. Another two in the basement lead them to the hell scape. Thankfully, there was a staircase leading directly back up, without going through the soul filled fog. Once upstairs, Ragatha explained the more normal house. It was your typical mansion, with around ten extra rooms that all had the same bedroom layout.
"Wait can we back track?" Twinkle got the girls attention. " We have to hold our breath in the fog down there?"
Pomni pulled back a bit, very clearly uncomfortable.
"Yea...and if ya let it in, you go crazy. It's terrifying. I-" Twinkle took Pomni's hands.
"It's ok, it's ok. Thank you." The jester didnt enjoy the contact, but her soft tone made it doable. In a flash, everyone was back where they started. A red glow hovered over everyone, until Gangle turned green. Everyone else suddenly was covered in a sheet with eye holes cut out.
"W-wait- so I'm-" Gangle stuttered, suddenly having a blue jumpsuit on; along with a small vacuum. Every 'ghost' had a small button controller.
"Oh hell, this is sick." Jax's smiled seeped into his voice.
"ALRIGHT! Our first hunter is Gangle! Good luck little hunter! Hiders, ya have one minute to hide!" Caine's voice boomed over the room, making Gangle jump and whimper.
"I-I don't know-" Gangle looked back at the group, but everyone was already running.
Kinger dove under a coffee table. It was a good idea- Accept most of his lower half was sticking out, there was no cloth over table, and it was just under 50 feet from Gangle. She decided to pretend not to see him. Gangle had moved to a closet. The take apart toy didn't want to really scare Gangle, but they also didn't want to lose. Jax on the other hand, had already set up a few cheap jumps cares. Just some cardboard figures on string, he had found in an old art room upstairs. Ragatha and Pomni also stayed in the top of the mansion, Gangle wasn't a big enough threat to hide in the basement. That, just left Twinkle.
The fox had gotten down on all fours. She didn't have paws, more like just pointy stubs that got smaller the more her limbs went out. Still, they were soft; making her movements silent. Her ears twitched, hearing what boards on the floor would creek. She could hear Jax giggling a floor above her. It was true, Twinkle didn't know everyone well enough yet. It had only been a f(beep)ing day damn it; but she still didn't want to see Gangle suffering.
The moment the timer went off, a new timer appeared. On everyone's little controller, a ten minute timer was set.
"Huh, didn't think it was timed." Jax said to himself. He Shrugged, pulling into the darkness. Gangle nervously stepped out of the room, the mansion groaned and creeked. Gangle was shaking, about to start crying when a loud buzzer went off.
"Congratulations Twinkle! Winner of the first round! Two points to Twinke, and one to our remaining hiders!" Caine's voice echoed through the mansion. Confused, Gangle looked around. Only to have her eyes land on Twinkle. She was sitting behind her, her tail wagging under the sheet as Gangle's flang hung in her mouth.
"O-oh, thanks for not scaring me." Gangle sniffled, hesitant before she gently patted the foxes head.
"Of course~!" Twinkle returned the flag. Upstairs she could hear Jax angerly stomping around. Though, Twinkle had a huntch he wasn't to hurt about it; as Ragatha was chosen to be the next hunter.
Ragatha actually tapped out Kinger, who screamed when he was found; but only after he got up and looked at Ragatha. She also found Gangle, who tried hiding under the kitchen sink. It would have worked, if Gangle's sheet didn't get caught in the door. Zooble actually scared Ragatha, only by whispering in her ear. Then using the button to be sent into a nearby closet. Jax's jumps cares worked perfectly, but he got to cocky and got his flag stolen when he didn't push his button fast enough. Pomni and Twinkle teamed up against Ragatha, though she had pulled Pomni's flag at the same time Twinkle snagged hers.
"That's a wrap! Two points again to Twinkle! One more to Zooble!"
Kinger was seeker next, and not one had the heart to really hide from him. Even Jax made his hiding spot noticeable. Yet- it didn't matter. Kinger stared at the fire in the main area, for the whole ten minutes.
"Um- well, I guess everyone gets a point accept for Kinger?" No one knew why Caine sounded so surprised, as if he was rooting for the chess piece.
Zooble was actually surprisingly good. They were able to walk silently due to their foam feet, and they actually pushed half of their flag into their hips piece. Making it ten times harder to quickly tug it out. Due to this, Twinkle was caught. As well as Jax, and even Pomni. Kinger had followed Ragatha and Gangle, who hid in the attic. An area Zooble didn't know was accessible.
"That's a point for our scardy-cat team! And lets throw in one for Zooble, for catching the most hiders so far haha! See, aren't my adventures amazing?" Zooble rolled their eyes, making Caine growl as he choice a new seeker.
Pomni, was next. Jax had a blast! He used his button so much, Caine was getting nervouse it would break. Ragatha almost walked out to help, but Twinkle had pulled her back into a closet.
"What are you doing doll?" Twinkle moved back her sheet, her golden eyes had a glowing effect.
"Well- I mean- Pomni is being harassed. I have to help her-" Twinkle's tail moved over the doll's mouth.
"Look, you're a nice girl. You've always been so selfless. But if you really want that prize, you need to stay put." Ragatha's eye widened. Part of her really wanted that prize...but Pomni was about to cry from over stimulation.
"I can't give up on her." Ragatha pushed away the fox, jumping out she caught Jax off guard. She snatched his flag, and put it in Pomni's hand.
"Hey! That's cheating!" Jax glared at the doll, but the buzzer went off anyway
"And Jax is out!" Jax was heated, with a growl he jumped the doll. A few screams and a lot of shoving later, Ragatha's flag was off and on the floor.
"And now Ragatha is out! Oh wow!" The doll glared up at the rabbit. Who was now brushing himself off. Thanks to Ragatha and Jax distracting, Pomni's time was now up.
"A point to Gangle, Zooble, Kinger and Twinkle! On to the semi final round!"
Jax, was more impressive than Zooble and Ragatha would admit. His soft paws allowed him to move silently through the halls, his ears picked up the smallest of Gangles Whimpers. He easily got the cry baby's flag, inane kinger was next, and after tripping Zooble; he got their flag too. Ragatha got scared due to Jax knocking down all the pots in the kitchen.
"Jax! This is a huge a(beep) mess!" He laughed down as the angry rag doll.
"Uh- this place isn't real. I'm not gonna make some butler mad-" Jax's ear twitched near the door to the basement. He saw Pomni's hat bells dissappear into the darkness.
"You only have three minutes left." Ragatha smirked.
"Oh I'm gonna win this. Just watch." Jax held up his stolen flags and went after the door...
"This..this is the only way- right?" Pomni held Twinkle's hand, the pair going into the deep dark.
"We have to beat him." Twinlke was determined. A little to determined, it was confusing...