Re: ASB Mafia: Day XIV
There is no need for discussion at this stage in the game. The trainers stand silent for a while, avoiding one another's gaze, until at last Animorph becomes bored. Placing a firm hand on Catch-22's shoulder, he shoves the baffled trainer at the executioner. She stumbles forward and turns a perplexed look back at the other people standing out in the square. They turn stony looks back at her, unmoved by her plight. Apparently, there is no dissension about who the victim will be today.
Catch-22 gulps, then turns reluctantly back towards the absol waiting quietly across the square. There's nowhere to run, and the trainers behind her start to crowd forward, forcing her towards her fate. Realizing that all is lost, she steps forward with as much bravery as she can muster.
Even before the execution is complete, the crowd is starting to disperse, as though uninterested with the proceedings. In the end, only Bobino is left, staring at the now-headless body of Catch-22 lying headless by the cracked, stained block. The absol sits quietly on the other side, watching Bobino with solemn, patient eyes. The sun sinks below the horizon and shadows lengthen. Neither absol nor trainer departs as night falls. Bobino stares up at the gyarados statue that dominates the fountain, his breath fogging in the chilly night air. How long has it been since this game began? It seems as though months have passed since Negrek's murder at the opening of the Halloween Festival.
Whatever the case, Bobino knows that it can't go on much longer. And indeed, the sound of footsteps drift from behind him, approaching at a leisurely pace, as the first stars begin to appear in the night sky overhead.
Bobino turns, lips already starting to form words. Perhaps he has some admonishment for the members of the Mafia, wants to know how they could turn on their fellow trainers as they have, or merely wishes to plead for mercy. Whatever the case, he never gets the chance to speak his mind--Animorph lunges at the first sign of movement, a weapon no more refined than a large knife in his right hand. This strikes home in Bobino's chest, sliding between ribs and puncturing a lung, turning Bobino's cry of pain into a kind of wheezy gurgle as he falls, lashing out desperately at his attacker, to the pavement.
By now, though, Animorph is well-practiced at disposing of troublesome innocents, and he has no trouble finishing Bobino off. When the work is done, he cleans his knife on Bobino's shirt, revealed now that his costume has fallen away. More footsteps announce the approach of his comrades, the team that has seen him through the whole game. "Too easy," Animorph says to no one in particular, holding his knife up to admire its glint in the starlight.
At the base of the fountain, the silent absol at last stirs. Getting slowly to her paws, she looks for one last moment at the huddled crowd of Mafia standing across the square over the corpse of their final victim. Then, turning about, she starts to walk towards the far gate of the city, her silent paws doing nothing to disturb the stillness of the empty city's night.
The game is over. The Mafia have won!
Congratulations to Animorph, Chiropter, Full Metal Cookies, and Ruieko for a game well played. Honorary mention goes to MurrMurr for taking one for the Mafia team, too!
