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His wounds had healed surprisingly well though Cecil knew his wounds hadn't been that bad to begin with. Still, he at least expected that the bruise would have lingered but it had faded to a dull purple hue around his eye. His vision had mostly returned to normal and for that he could be thankful.

He was still thinking about the odd vines around the city that he had spotted when he heard a loud bang outside. Rising with a jolt he looked toward the first window he could get to, peering through the cracks that hadn't been boarded over. Had that been? It couldn't be could it?

Another flash had rose into the dark sky and Cecil was at first amazed by the burst of color until the second response he had grown used to over the last month settled in. He knew to fear loud noises and the light because it attracted the monsters they were trying to avoid but that didn't seem to be what was happening. From what he could see from his vantage it looked like they were avoiding it. Why?

Curious Cecil went to investigate, drawn toward the obnoxious fireworks that continued to explode overhead. Reason would tell him that if there was fireworks there had to be other supplies maybe even weapons but when he arrived at the source he was even more startled by what he found. It was almost blinding. Walls of lights blinking and glittering with purpose to gather their attention. It was a casino. It couldn't be anything else but...why? How?

He was leery but he wasn't the only one that had gathered and more and more of the people around him were moving in to check it out. It did seem rather inviting. What was the worse that could happen?

The longer Cecil began to wander the stranger he started to feel. Maybe it was the heat...no...this was more than heat. But he hadn't drank anything. Or had he? His head was swimming too much for him to remember.

Before he knew it everything went dark and he slumped to the ground in a heap. When he woke next he felt constricted, his eyes blinking heavily as he tried to determine where he was. Everything felt off, his body was sore and complained the moment he lifted his head to look around. What was going on? Where was he?

He tried to shift but realized his movements were limited and even then it took him a moment longer to realize he was tied to a chair. His senses slowly coming back to him Cecil could tell he wasn't alone but his vision wasn't clear. He couldn't properly see, all he could make out was the sound of breathing and muttering of other people. Were they in the same situation?

The voice that boomed into life startled him and sent his already rapid heart rate into a full blow gallop but his senses had returned to him then, either by choice or shocked back into existence he didn't know but he could see the room and a few of the people within. He could hardly pay attention to what was being explained panicked and riddled with anxiety like he was. Where was everyone? Were his comrades safe? Hitsu? Rook?

Cecil finally tuned in when the voice began to explain about rules, laying out the situation in a whole new frightening manner. They had been kidnapped and now had to buy their way free. And what was that about dinner? Did he want to know?

When he was given the opportunity to ask a question Cecil didn't hesitate. "Why are you doing this? Let us go!"

But he was denied an answer. For all the build up he was denied such a simple answer along with his freedom. As an added insult he and the chair he was bound to were dragged into another room. The small proximity made Cecil's heart leap into his throat and when he saw the two people within his anxiety raised ten fold.

What did they mean by patron? They really expected him to choose who to save and who to leave here? "I..I can't.." He shook his head but apparently a choice had to be made and his gaze looked between the two. If offered he probably would have taken them both without hesitation but to choose one was difficult. His eyes lingered on the woman, she was pretty and very frightened for obvious reason. He hated to see that expression but his eyes drifted to the boy, young and so numb to it all Cecil could tell he had been here too long. Between the two who knew who he had to choose. He hated himself but this was no place for a child.

"The boy. Let him go."

They begin to untie him but just as they did there were another set of people dragging the woman off to another room screaming and wailing the whole way. He wanted to ask what was beyond that door even if he feared the answer but he didn't have a chance to ask. As soon as he opened his mouth the boy broke free and made a run for it only to be gunned down before he reached the door. It had happened so fast Cecil had barely enough time to yell for him to come back. He had screamed for him to wait just as the first bullet pierced the boy's body and took him down.

Shock. It was the only expression Cecil could manage as he stared at the boy laying on the ground in a growing pool of red. His chest constricted, his ability to breath suddenly hindered as he continued to stare at the horror that had unfolded in front of him. "Wha- WHY!? WHY!?"

Coins: 50