Jena looked at the man infront of her. How the hell was she supposed to know if he was lying or not? She looked at him carefully; he had a wiry beard, and looked sad, but mainly stoic. SHe glanced helplessly around her, if she got this wrong they were all screwed, but she simply had no idea. "Concentrate, Jena" she muttered to herself, "think, how do you know if sommeone is lying." She looked at him, he was looking directly at her, and his hadns were still. The usual signs that gave you away when you were lying weren't there; but then again this wasn't exactly usual. as she thought this over, a voice deep inside her was whispering that he wasn't lying...she concentrated on the voice and it got louder. Should she trus it? She had before... "He's telling the truth." she said to Ursula.
Vic froze up. How could he shoot someone -- something -- that looked exactly like him. There's no way, he thought. It can't be me. This is all an illusion. The Other fired again. He could feel the breeze as the bullet whizzed by. He might look like me, but he don't shoot like me. This guy's aim is s***. Vic adjusted the magnification on his scope to get a better look. The creature had no eyes, just dark sockets where they should be. For a moment, he thought it might be a shapeshifter like Anthea, but he knew the snake-man was better at disguises than this; this was something else. "Enough thinking. Time to start killing." Vic aimed for the creature's head and pulled the trigger, but the monster was too fast. It actually tried to dodge the bullet, rolling to the right out of the line of fire. But he still managed to hit it in the leg, blasting off nearly half of its body. The doppelganger lay on the ground, slowly bleeding to death. Vic quickly got up and ran over to get a closer look. He never took his eyes off the creature, but somehow, when he got there, it wasn't him anymore. it had changed into someone else. What he found was Reese's body, lying on the floor, with all limbs intact, as though Vic hadn't fired at all. What the f***? It was a trick to draw Vic in close. The faux-Reese suddenly leapt up, drawing a knife from behind his back. He got in two quick hits, stabbing Vic in the left arm and right thigh, before he could wrestle the imposter to the ground and aim the railgun at its face. He pulled the trigger and the fake Reese vanished, replaced by bloody pulp that instantly coated the walls, floor, and even the ceiling. At such close range, the railgun left little to remember it by. It rained blood for a few seconds afterward. But, before Vic could celebrate his victory, he found himself under fire again. Looking up, he saw Anna and Keira, with a machine gun and shotgun respectively. they had the same hollow eyes as the Reese/Vic copy he'd encountered. Vic rolled out of the way as Anna nearly shredded him with automatic gunfire. Without thinking twice, he raised the railgun and pulled the trigger, but she dodged the bullet. Keira fired a blast from her shotgun, putting a hole in the wall inches from Vic's head. He fired again and again, constantly backing away, trying to keep his distance, but they were always moving in on him and the stab wound in his leg was bleeding heavily. He pulled the trigger on the railgun, but it failed to fire. The barrel had severely overheated. It was warped and the bullet was jammed inside. He dropped it and drew his handgun, furiously firing away at them. He shot the faux-Keira through the head; she dropped to the ground, dead. The faux-Anna sprayed the wall with machine gun fire. The hot bullets tore through Vic's body before he managed to fire a round into her chest, dropping her as well. His bulletproof vest saved his life, but he felt the punch of every single round. He was left, kneeling in the blood-stained hallway, with blood streaming down his face. There was a slow trickle of red running down his arm, dripping from the tip of his smoking pistol. And more were coming. He could see them in the distance, approaching slowly. Stewart, Donovan, M, Keren, and Jena too. He checked his gun: one bullet left.
Ursula stared at Jena. "And what will you give him?" Ursula said, "This is one penalty mark since you didn't follow the rules exactly you have to state if he is lying....if he is telling the truth include truth and what you are giving him."
Jena thought for a moment, what could she give Steve to help him? She rummaged around in her backpack looking for something to give Steve. Then she found the key to her apartment on Earth. "I'm going to give Steve use of my house until he can get back on his feet again." Suddenly Steven disappeared, to be replaced by a young woman with blonde hair. "My name is Meredith, and my boyfriend, who I gave everything to cheated on me and then left me, taking everything with him." Jena's heart wrenched for the girl, she knew what that felt like. but the voice inside her was telling her Meredith was lying. "She's lying." Jena said to Ursula, again Meredith disappeared to be replaced by a young boy. "My name is Blake, and my sister stole my father's gun and took it to school, she shot three students." This time it took barely any thinking at all to know the answer, the voice spoke up immediately. "Blake is lying also." He disappeared to be replaced by a very young girl. "My name is Amy and my hosue burned down and we lost everything." a single tear glistened on her cheek. Jena's head was screaming at her that this was a trick, what better way to trick her into getting this wrong, then sending an adorable girl who looked physically incaple of lying? but her heart and the voice inside of her was quietly telling her that the girl was truthful. "Amy is...is...telling the truth," Jena thought for a second then knew exacty what to give the little child, "and I'm going to give her the doll that my mother gave to me before she left us." then Amy disappeared.
Vic was down on one knee, in unbearable pain. His vision blurred as the blood ran into his eyes, but he couldn't wipe it away. His left hand was in too much pain; he didn't dare lift it. In his right hand he gripped the handgun, pointing it at the approaching imposters. One bullet for five targets -- impossible -- but he didn't dare lower it. A soft hand reached down and wiped the blood from his face. He could see clearly again. He looked up to see Jena standing over him, dressed in a flowing white robe like an angel. "It's over," she said in a gentle voice. She laid a hand on the gun, as though she were urging him to put it away. "No more fighting. It's over." "It's... not over," he said, struggling to get the words out. He broke into a fit of coughing. Blood came up. The enemy was getting closer. He was down on one knee, dying a slow death. She stood over him with her arms outstretched, inviting him to embrace her. "You don't have to fight anymore, Vic. We can be together." She picked up the knife the faux-Reese had dropped. Its blade was still tainted crimson with Vic's blood. "One bullet for you. One blade for me. We'll die together," she said. Vic's hand was trembling. He slowly turned the gun on himself, pressing the muzzle to his head. "I... I won't let them," he said. "I'll do it... myself... I'll kill myself. It's... it's better this way." But he knew he was lying to himself. Why am I doing this? Because she told me to? Who is she to me, that I would give my life for her? He looked up at Jena. She stared back at him with sparkling green eyes, bloody knife in hand. Her brown hair flowed as though it had a life of its own. A heavenly aura surrounded her. He thought for sure he must be in the final stages of death. Suicide or not, he knew he wouldn't make it. At least it would be quicker if he ended it himself. The others were nearly there. They began shooting. Bullets skipped across the cold floor, ricocheting all around him. It felt as if it was all unfolding in slow motion. "A kiss before we die," Jena said, leaning in close to him. She wrapped her arms around him in an embrace, bringing their lips coming closer and closer. "I love you," she said. For a brief moment, he nearly accepted that. He put the gun to the faux-Jena's head, stopping her before their lips met. "I love her too," he said and pulled the trigger, "but you're not her... you're not the one I love." He broke the embrace, letting the creature drop to the floor. Its eyes slowly turned black, replaced by the vacant sockets of the Wall Walkers. The scene vanished and he found himself in a glass jar, slowly filling with water. He couldn't speak or move, only watch in silent terror. He'd gone from one nightmare to another.
The next figures appeared in front of Anna, so she knew it was her turn. The first was a dark haired woman who could have been her twin, only she was pretty with red lipstick and long, hooked fingernails, rather than short, dirty, and built for combat. "My boyfriend left me! And I'm going to kill myself!" the woman wailed. Anna snorted. "She's lying." If she had been telling the truth she wouldn't have said anything--she would have done it. Anna knew this. The next one to appear was what looked like a hippie; green hair, orange, fleece pull-over, shaved head, and a bright orange beard. "Yo, man. Like, my car got stolen, and I have no money--can you help me out?" "No," Anna replied. This man vanished, too. The next person to appear was a face all too familiar to Anna, but the eyes were different--there was sorrow, so much sorrow. "Please, Annie, you gotta help me. I screwed up. I'm so sorry, you've got to help me, I'm being chased, I'm going to die... help..." Why did she believe him...? She didn't want to, she knew in logic she shouldn't, but yet she did. But what was the answer...? Was he lying, or wasn't he? Anna ground her teeth together. She wanted to say yes, but she knew this man only ever lied. The yes was because it was supposed to trick her--beat her. Wasn't it? She didn't know. Oh, she wished she knew. She let instinct take over, praying that it would not destroy her. "It's true. Go into the house and take my gun. It's hidden in the locked compartment under my bed--it will still be there. It saved me, it can save you." He vanished.
As soon as Anna's final apparition vanished, it was Keira's turn. Hopefully it would be easier than the last one. Wasn't trusting in yourself a lot harder than trusting in others, after all? The first person that appeared in front of Keira was an older woman with a kind, gentle appearance - a warm face. It reminded her of the perfect grandmother, but her expression was sorrowful. "My husband and I are in debt. We'll probably have to sell our house soon, and I'll have to go back to work again. I don't know if we'll make it . . ." Keira closed her eyes shut for a moment, trying to block out the friendly face. She had to listen. "You're lying," she said abruptly, opening to her eyes to see the apparition disappear. The next one was a more familiar face - a man's face. A face that she hated. It was the face of her ex-boyfriend. "Keira, I need your help. I . . . I can't live without you. I got in some trouble. You used to always help me get out of trouble. I promise I won't hurt you. I've changed!" He had always been so good at lying to her. "I'm done with you. I know you're lying." He evaporated just like the old woman, gone in an instant. The final test appeared. It was a young woman about her own age, with a beautiful, perfect face. The person that she looked upon, however, was terrified, with tear-stained cheeks and swollen eyes. "I ran away, and now I don't know where to go. My boyfriend has my car. I'm never going back, but I'm afraid to ask for help. I know that you'll understand me. I know what you've been through. Please, help me." "You're telling the truth," Keira said without a second thought. But what was she going to give her? Rummaging through her pack, Keira took out the keys to her car. "Here. Take my car." The woman nodded, her eyes full of gratitude, and she, too, disappeared.
Ursula gave a smug smile. "The only one who got a perfect score was Anna, Jena Amy was lying and Steve was lying as well, Keira the grandmother was telling the truth," Ursula said, "Well onto the next challenges, by the way those mistakes are penalties you're making me quite upset....the next challenge is the challenge of the heart, this game will be run like those dating shows you humans have." Ursula chuckled a little as if something even more pleasant was going on somewhere else. "You'll be seated in a chair and 3 lucky bachelors will be right behind these white walls....Keira why don't you go first?" Ursula said. Suddenly Keira was sat in a chair. "Once again the same rules apply no cheering each other, one on one....and your girlfriends won't be able to see the men either," Ursula said. Suddenly their "lucky bachelors" were in little boxed rooms and the girls were forced to watch Keira. * * * They led on the bed together. Ursula was stroking him, and yet he still felt nothing. He felt paralyzed as if this were some sort of emotional and spiritual rape. "You might be correct," Ursula said with a smug laugh. She kissed him again on the lips and then she closed the curtains to hide their obscenities. * * * Reese was in a black room. He knew all to well black rooms were not what he enjoyed. But he certainly knew his fears as they came up. His father and the compassion Keira showed. He somehow could visualize them, but only inside his mind. As if her were more or less hallucinating. But another fear kind of crept up. The losing of Keira as well. As he could he care for a woman to be afraid of losing her, but be afraid of her because she cared for him.
Keira barely had time to react before she was in the chair, waiting for Ursula to start the game . . . whatever the game was. She had no idea what was going to happen, and that scared her. "How does this game work, exactly?" Keira questioned, nervous. What did Ursula have up her sleeve this time? Keira glanced quickly at Anna and Jena, who were still standing where they had been only moments before, but then she remembered the rules and kept her mouth shut, turning to face the alien once more. She was not going to like this.
"You just listen to the men speak and you choose Number 1, Number 2, or Number 3, they will announcer their occupation, what they do for a living and their hobbies," Ursula paused, "Then once you choose a number the second part of the challenge begins....you have to make a dream date with the man you chose." Ursula gave another willful chuckle and smile. "Now lets begin," Ursula said. At first there was a deadening silence. They heard nothing and no one. Suddenly they saw a fake crowd, a a fake host, and Keira in a nice black dress. "Welcome to date that man, the contestant has to listen to these 3 men behind the wall, she chooses who she wants to date and then makes her dream date possible, let's begin," the host said, "Keira tell a little about yourself first, your occupation, some likes, hobbies, and favorite food."
"Uh . . ." Keira really didn't know what to say. This was all too creepy, even though she knew that all of it was fake. What was the point of this, exactly? What a stupid challenge. And she didn't really like the dress she was wearing, to top it all off. "Well . . . I'm a scientist? Is that good enough?" Probably not, but whatever. "I like a lot of things." What did Ursula want her to say? What would be good enough? "Having fun, reading, um . . . working?" Not really. "Hobbies? Science? Does that count? Other than that, I don't really do much. My job really does take up all of me time, you know." It was a good enough excuse. "I don't really have a favorite food, but I do like salad. Well, I guess I've only become accustomed to it over the past few years. I didn't like it back then . . ." Her answers sucked, but she didn't really care. Let's just get this over with.
"Lets begin," the host said. The crowd died down and a man cleared his throat. Quickly Keira realized that his voice didn't sound like anyone he knew. "I'm Number 1 mine name is Reese Maris," said the man who sounded like a chain smoke and drinker, "My hobbies are swimming, my favorite food is ice cream, my occupation is boss of an alien experiment facility, and my likes are to write and listen to blues music." The crowd clapped. "Very good Number 1," the host said, "Number 2 tell us about yourself." The crowd quieted down again. "I'm Number 2 my name is Ethan Fakir," said a familiar voice he sounded just like Reese's voice, "My hobbies are picking woman up on the street, my favorite food is the food you have when in the bed with someone, my occupation is paid escort, and my likes are woman." "Thank you Number 2," the host said, "Number 3." The crowd clapped and silenced the third time. "I'm Number 3 my name is Mathew Sundance," said a voice that sounded all to much like Ethan's voice, "My hobbies are painting and writing music, my favorite food is past, my occupation is artist and chef, and my likes are music, food, and painting." The crowd clapped. "Thank you 3 wonderful guys...now Keira lets hear your thoughts on the men, then you have to choose the man with your choice of a date," the host said.
Keira was utterly confused. So, guy number 1 sounded a lot like a drunken smoker who answered just like Reese, guy number 2 sounded like Reese, but answered like a male prostitute, and guy number 3 sounded a little bit like her ex-boyfriend Ethan, but answered the questions in a way that was completely like him. Was Ursula trying to confuse her? "Hmm . . ." she began. Who should she go with? "I think I'm gonna have to go with Number 2." He sounded like Reese, and that was good enough for her.
The host smiled at Keira. "All right first of let's show you the bachelors," the host said. The crowd clapped and then quieted down. "Number 1 Reese Maris," the host said. Out came a man who looked like Keira's ex boyfriend, he smiled at her. "Number 2 Ethan Fakir," the host said. Out came a man who looked like an old man and he had a smug look on his face since Keira had chosen him. "Number 3 Mathew Sundance," he host said. Out came a man who looked like Reese, he gave her a gentle smile. "Now where will you be taking Number 2 on his dream date?"the host asked.
"What?" Keira was now more confused than ever. So . . . Reese was Ethan, Ethan was some strange old man, and the strange old man was Reese? It was all so twisted! "Uh . . ." she didn't know what to say. Who was she taking? Ethan or the old man? What was going on? "Dream date? Err . . ."
The host stared at Keira. "Well we are waiting on your choice of a lovely dream date," the host said.
"How about dinner?" Keira asked, faking a smile. This was so stupid. She wondered how Anna and Jena would fare. Would their choices be this confusing, or was Keira just imagining all of this? Either way, she really didn't want to go on a date with an old man, whoever that old man may be.
"That doesn't sound like a dream, try one more time Keira or else you'll get a penalty," the host said. He stared at her with cold eyes.
"What? That is my dream, geesh! You can't critisize peoples' dreams. A nice dinner, a lovely chat. It's what I've always wanted." It was partly true. She had never really been on a nice, lovely date before. "But I don't want a penalty, and since you're being so stubborn, I'll go on a date to . . . an island?" Now that was stupid. Only the prissy, full-of-themself girls would choose to go on a date to an island. But Keira didn't really give a crap anymore. This was all just a dream anyways.
"Fine then penalty," the host said, "All three lovely men, you may say goodbye you asked for this Keira by not playing the game right." Suddenly it was really quick and really fast, but she felt all three men one at time rush up and kiss her on the lips. Suddenly she was thrown into the chair and strapped down. Jena was sitting next and the host smiled at her. "Are you ready Jena?" the host asked.
Keira didn't really care. A penalty was better than going out with some smelly old man. She didn't really like it when the old man and Ethan rushed up to give her a kiss on the lips, however, but when Jena sat down Keira felt a little bit better. Now the younger woman would see how horrible the game show was. But it was just a dream anyways, so the penalty didn't really count. Well, at least she thought it was a dream . . .
Jena found herself on the chair Keira had vacated. The soinister host was asking her if she was ready. Hell no! She screamed inside her head, but then she looked behind her at the men in the jars which were steadily filling with water, and then at Anna and Keira who were both watching her. It wasn't like she had any choice. "Ready as I'll ever be" She muttered.
Donovan was alone. He did not know where he was an there was and hallway stretched in all directions. What had happened? Vic and his weed, Was he still tripping. He shold have calmed down by now right. Maybe he was halucinating. He had heard voices, and an Ursula. Had he been sleep. What had happened to Stewart and Anna and the others? "ANNA! ANNA! VIC,JENA, KEIRA, STEWART SOMEBODY...anybody." Something was going on beside the weed. but he did not know what. He strolled towards the darkness. That was always his home when he felt any fear creep inside of him. When he became the creature of darkness. Nothing, no man, no creature on earth, no alien in space could stop him. He walked to the darkness leaving his fear behind.
"Lets get this started," the host said. The crowd clapped. "I'm Number 1, my name is Marcus Chrome," but his voice sounded like Vics, "My hobbies are cleaning out my weapons and cooking, my likes are magazines, my occupation is dancer, and my favorite food is pizza." The crowd clapped. "I'm Number 2, my name is Vic," but his voice sounded like Marcus her old boyfriends voice, "My hobbies are getting high, my likes are pie, my occupation is S.P.O of Edgar Glaze, and my favorite food is pie." The crowd clapped. "I'm Number 3 my name is Bard Wilson," his voice sounded of a young girl, "My hobbies are hunting, my likes are hunting, my occupation is a hunter, and my favorite meat is wild meat."
The voices were throwing her off. When she heard Vic's voice she felt happier and almost cut off Ursula to pick him, but hhis name was Marcus, and he sounded just like her old boyfriend. On the other hand the one that sounded like Vic and was named Vic had the voice of Marcus...and then there was the other one, that sounded like a girl...Who the hell was she supposed to choose? Voice or description? voice or description? "I choose number 2"
