Chapter Text
As all three participants awoke, the whole colosseum roared. Money changed hands, manic laughs and softened aw ’s filled the air.
“ Now, my dear, dear audience " His voice filled the whole room easily, even without a microphone, but he still used one anyway, his smile curled, “ and my dearest participants. Let's announce the placements and prices .” He chuckled.
~•~
As the trio awoke at a triangular table, they were very confused. Where were they; what was going on? But one thing was for sure, all three of them were crying. Until this point their heads were resting on their arms, so all their faces and arms were slightly damp.
~•~
Jedidiah took in the surroundings quickly, before anything else. The three of them were set upon a stage, sunken into the middle of an audience, like a fighting pit, surrounded with very familiar smelling fires. Some assistants removed some circlet looking devices from their heads, when they were still shocked by the sounds of the crowd, they were still carried out, with the projection devices to which they were connected. He started to put together what was this supposed to be.
Then he spotted Elijah. He was still catatonic, his eyes fixated on the table near Sydney, on a weak, withering mushroom in front of him, but not in Sydney. What was he doing here? Then Jeddidaih saw Sydney. He was awake, resting a hand on the side of his neck checking something, eyes soon flickering onto him.
~•~
Elijah woke up horrified, slightly by the noise, the hands holding him down, but the images still haunted him. His hands covered in Sydney’s blood, His eyes as life left Him, the flowers that their last kiss spawned, one of which was currently sitting on the table in front of His sleeping form. Hopefully sleeping, he thought. And he couldn't care for anything other than that flower.
~•~
Sydney's first reaction was checking his neck, but there was no wound, no cog, nothing, but he still felt the phantom pain.
Then his eyes jumped to Jedidiah — he seemed shaken but alive — then to Elijah. He was shaken, broken, broke in. And then he remembered everything, all their dreams, all three deaths, all three nights. He envied those other versions of himself, but then he saw the face of both men in their most heartbroken moment. And he felt it all. And he saw two objects in front of him. A white lotus, darkened by his own blood, and a little shrunken mushroom.
~•~
“Now, I pronounce my beautiful friend, Sydney October Sergeant, as the winner of tonight!” His voice shook Sydney to the core, and he felt that he didn't win by beating this twisted mindgame. “Your price is simple, you get to choose whom to die for their failure, and who lives on without the knowledge of it.” The two objects before him slowly lifted up.
“ CHOOSE! ” His voice shook the whole room, commanding, and without its usual charm.
~•~
All Sydney felt was familiar pain in his neck, as he crumbled the mushroom in his hand.
“You don't have to suffer anymore, Jeddie…” he whispered weakly, as his blood soaked his clothing. And this was the only reason why he could pull Elijah back into reality.
“ Your decision, dear. I'm amused to see it. ” Adam said with excitement, as if his dream had come true.
Elijah rushed over to Sydney. “Nononononono, I won't watch you die again.” His tears clouded his vision.
“Please, let me die. Now, as opposed to other times, I'm ready for this.” His voice was weak and shaky. “And please let him walk away from all of this.” Sydney gestured towards Jeddiah, who was on the verge of fainting by the amount of blood. “Can you do this for me, Elijah?” Sydney smiled at him, as his hands returned to his side, tears rolling down on his face.
“ What a shocking night! ” Adam announced happily. “ It's not often seen that this game has SUCH shocking turns of events. Good night! And remember to feed yourselves bedbugs, otherwise they bite. ”
~•~
The next morning a letter came in the mail addressed to Lucille. She opened it with hesitation.
“Good morning Lucille,
I know you will be one not really missing my voice, but I wanted to fill you in, as a man's dying wish. I died, for good this time, or at least that's what they all said. But that's not important. The important thing is Jeddie does not remember me, or at least my deaths. I don't know if his memories have been replaced with someone else, or they are just gone.
Memories, such interesting things—all the emotions, and lessons they hold, all the effects that a smell, a picture, or a touch can make you recall.
You will find an acceptance letter for a masters degree in physics for Jeddie. If you think it would benefit him, please give it to him.
Despite our differences, I enjoyed working with you, and thank you for a lot.
See you on the other side (or don’t, it’s up to you).
Sydney October Sargent .”