"Well, the Demiurge wanted Claire for a reason, right?" Elliot suggested.
"Just like Wanda... just like me. Not that I have any idea what purpose I could serve..." He let out a long sigh.
"So... this party, guess we have to wait until later, huh?"
The world they were in was strange indeed, for as soon as Elliot said this, things around the group began to speed up. Elliot looked around in wonder as the students and faculty moved past them at a rapid speed, looking as if someone hit the fast forward button in real life. It wasn't long before things slowed down and the light coming in from the windowed front doors of the school were dim. Kids were congregating once again, but now lining up at a booth at the end of the hall. A banner overhead read:
Vortex Party, tonight in the gymnasium!
"Very strange," Elliot mumbled. The sound of distant music could be heard even from here. The beat made Elliot feel strangely energetic.
A few girls at the booth perked up upon seeing Nathan and one commented on the wounds on his face. When one girl expressed a joke of taking care of him, Elliot felt a pang of annoyance he didn't quite understand. He determined he wasn't used to seeing anyone act like this... this was such an entirely different world from the majority of his alternate selves had ever experienced.
With Nathan's status known to most of the students, he and the others were let in easily enough. The club music was in full blast now, filling up everyone's ears and making it hard to concentrate.
"The energy of this place is unlike anything I've ever experienced!" Elliot exclaimed, making the whole thing sound more profound than it was. The gym was packed with students who congregated in various groups. Black cloths were draped over dividers that separated the gymnasium into specific sections, some for dancing, lounging, or snacking. The layout likely made it easy for certain students to get around the chaperones milling about easily enough.
"Remember, we're looking for that asshole teacher," Bridgette said, but the music seemed to swell around her words, making her hard to hear. Elliot found his eyes drawn to a couple kids passing around a flask. As if entranced, he pulled on Nathan's arm and pointed toward the students.
"What are they doing?" he asked
***
With the hold on Ruby and the others seemingly gone, Billy stood up and sighed.
"Phew," he said.
"That was kind of intense."
Usami seemed upset and sad.
"I'm really sorry..."
Billy smiled at her.
"Look, it's okay. We just need to start on trying to get out of here. The longer we stay, the worse it will be for all of us! I think what is most important is that we try and regroup with the others. Can you sense where they are, Usami? The Scarlet Witch should be relatively easy for you to find... I think."
Usami crossed her little arms together.
"Well...! Hmm..." She tilted her head.
"Um, I think I've found something, but I'm not sure..."
Suddenly, the world around the group changed. The sky disappeared, the light grew dim, and the air grew dim. Music began to erupt around the group and they found themselves amid a crowd of mostly young adults. Billy let out a gasp.
"What...? This atmosphere... is like a cruddy highschool dance!"
"That's because it is," Usami concluded. She shivered slightly.
"Some of your friends are here, I know it!"
Billy looked around to see that while Ruby and Jennifer had travelled with them, the others at the tea party had disappeared.
"Usami, where did those others go...?"
"They weren't strong enough to come." Usami said, sounding a bit sad.
"They're still under my protection, but it's too dangerous to bring them to a place like this!"
Jennifer seemed scared by the booming music. She edged closer to Ruby, one hand pressed against her own chest.
"This is all... so strange..."
"Hey!"
Billy turned to see a kid looking intensely at him and the others. He was wearing a sash as if he was some kind of person of importance.
"As the appointed student chaperone of this Vortex Club party, I have the authority to question if you had permission to bring a pet into this event?" The kid pointed at Usami, looking at Billy.
"Do you have a leash for that rabbit?"
@Lucky @Gummi Bunnies @mintyy @Alex Azure @Capri @Space_Candy @Jeremi @York @Party
As Edmond began to come to his senses, the cries of the anonymous audience began to boo and hiss. Their jeers only grew loud and more violent as the exchange continued. It got to the point that it seemed the audience would attack, though the man with cat ears re-entered the tent at that point, putting an end to the hostilities.
"What do you all think you're doing?!" he screamed.
"Do you know how many rules you are breaking?! Interrupting a performance is liable to get someone hurt-- think of the lawsuits! No carny would stand for this kind of behaviour! Besides, do you know how hard it is to find a decent strongman? Way too difficult!!"
The man was seething.
"I should obliterate you all on the spot, but I know Monseiur Loyal will want to see you all--" He paused, cocking one of his ears as if hearing something.
"Hrm... seems the manager wants to see you instead. Who knows what he'll do with you..."
A sudden compulsion overtook the group and they were forced to follow the man out of the tent. The anonymous audience booed them as they left. The carnival atmosphere outside seemed dulled somehow, as if the group's actions had caused a ripple effect all over. The man continued until he came to a trailer situated a little out of the way from the main tents. He ushered the group inside and stayed outside to brusquely close the door behind them.
The trailer seemed much larger on the inside than it did on the outside. There was a comfortable living room space, with a divider separating it from an office. Past the divider, the group found a man sitting calmly behind a desk. He folded his hands on the desk and carefully examined the group.
"I certainly did not expect to see some of you again," he said.
@Jeremi @Yun Lee @Ver @Crunch @Sark @Carnival
Unfortunately for Jianyu, Jamie had already escaped. She met the locked door of the cage, with Jamie outside sporting a pained expression.
"I seriously didn't want to do that," he said to her.
"But I need a distraction if I'm going to get out of here. I seriously hope you get out somehow, but not before I'm long gone. See you, kid!"
Jamie then ran.
@Yun Lee
