How It's Done

We were trapped. Pathetically, sadly, ridiculously trapped. All these fights, all theses quests! I looked upon the faces of my friends and comrades, my beloved's eyes briming with fresh tears; where was Ben?

We were all bound together by enchanted ropes of steel. Hung in the middle of the room, our feet at least 6 feet from the ground, we despaired as the giant clock ticked ahead, midnight too close for comfort.

When the twelfth bell would ring, we would die he had said. He had laughed at us and swirled away, his black cape billowing at his back. Unimpressed, we all remained very calm. We knew already of the clock and it's sentence. Ben was quietly fixing it...at least, he was supposed to.

Minutes passed in silence, the steady ticking of the clock the only sounds in the large room. We tried not to panic.

Then, after agonizing minutes, finally, movement above. A dark silhouette emerged. Ben! we all thought just as the clock ticked 5 to midnight. A smile spread on my lips-

Abruptly, a terrible jolt rocked the chain holding us to the ceiling followed by a loud grinding sound. The darkness around us took a red tinge and the temperature suddenly soared in the room. My beloved shrieked and I saw it too. Below us, a pit of molten rock the size of a large pond bubbled menacingly.

An evil laugh brought our attention back to the dark silhouette. It was Him again! On his face, a malevolent smile was grotesquely being deformed by the shifting shadows of red and gold the lava projected.

"You'll never get away with this! We'll get out and kill you!" I screamed, gathering my courage. Where was Ben?

He made no reply, which was uncommon. Why was he not threatening us? Why was he not exposing his plan, now he had us at his mercy? Why did he not take my beloved away to torture us?

Another strong jolt on the chain brought me out of my thoughts. He had pushed a large lever.

I only heard the shrieking and then, the burn...

"Master!"

I heard the cries of my superintendent just as the last inches of the Hero's fingers sunk into the magma. He scuttled towards me, his face contorted in confusion.

"Why Master? Why kill them so quickly and not use the Device to torture them?"

I arched an eyebrow at him and glowered somewhat.

"Because, my friend, had I waited, surely they would have found some way or another to get free. No time like the present I'm afraid. I'm sure you understand." I answered coolly while walking away. He followed without another word.

When Ben finally stopped the clock at 10 seconds to midnight and feeling very proud of himself, he slunk down into the dark room quietly, intent on freeing his friends. He walked slowly, trying to peer trough the gloom and then, so suddenly he did not even feel it go, the floor became an infernal pit of lava and he was waist deep in the scorching fire. By the time he registered to scream and feel the pain, he was already dead and his head sunk below the golden, bubbly surface.

The Lesson of the Day:
If I have the hero and his party trapped, I will not wait until my Superweapon charges to finish them off if more conventional means are available.
Aaridys
When you have plenty of ammo, you never miss. When you're running low, you can't hit the broad side of a barn.

Humeur: Good
Musique: "Five Millenia Later" Eric Serra, 5th Element OST