Just a Game

Silence.

Such a mysterious word.

The word can bring positive or negative connotation, depending on the situation. A peaceful night at the beach can bring blissful silence, while sensory deprivation in total isolation can be complete hell. Sometimes, however, silence is the only option.

Sometimes, there are just events that cannot be described in words. There are events that invoke such terror, that there is a sudden loss of words.

Silence.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The surrounding walls were cold, not the type of cold you would experience on a winter day, but something else. The walls gave off an unnatural aura, one of bone-chilling dread. Silence was filled throughout the room. All was quiet except for the racing heartbeat of tortured souls.

One mare had been confronted by an impossible decision. Indirectly murder one of your best friends, so the other can live. The only possible thing that can make this situation any worse is having to VOTE for your favorite friend.

Oops.

Time had begun to slow down for Twilight; her heart pacing increasingly faster by each passing second. Her eyes had begun to tear up at the mere thought of losing another friend. Pinkie had already begun bawling.

“Do you find this difficult, Twilight? Do you find yourself not being able to rely on your friends this time? Not everyone has the luxury of never having to worry. You, however, get your so-called “friends” to do your dirty work, leaving them to deal with the repercussions of YOUR ACTIONS. It is time to take matters into your own hands. The clock is ticking Twilight. Make your choice,” Said the menacing voice as it broke the silence.

Twilight hated that voice.

But at the same time, it invoked a sense of fear.

That thing’s voice gave off an intimidating presence, one that shook even the strongest ponies to their very core. Twilight felt that it could kill her off at any moment if it wanted. Just like that, her entire existence erased along with this hellhole.

“I…I don’t think I can…”

Twilight was experiencing a plethora of emotions. Sadness. Anger. Nostalgia. There’s no possible way Twilight can make this decision herself.

“Twilight, listen to me,” Rainbow Dash called from a parallel room.

“I know how hard this is going to be, but you gotta listen. These are my friends too. I practically grew up with Fluttershy. But if you really don’t know what to do, think of AJ. What would she want?”

Twilight couldn’t cope with what she was hearing. She didn’t want to.

“No, there has to be another way!” Twilight shouted as she shook her head, nervously pacing around what could be called a room.

“Yeah, there is. They both die, and we can be on our way,” Another voice called out.

“Hey asshole, why don’t you shut your mouth and let her think!?” Dash scolded Half-Track.

“Maybe I wouldn’t be in such a bad mood if she just LET ME DIE!” He replied.

“The mare I had spent my life with for twenty years, TWENTY YEARS, is dead. My son, my ONLY son, is dead. All because that bitch still had feelings for me. Do you know what that’s like? To have your whole family murdered in front of you because of another’s affection? OF COURSE I’M PISSED!!”

Half-Track’s bellows reverberated off of the cold stone walls. Silence once again filled the air.

Rainbow Dash did not make a sound.

Not long after, a faint sob could be heard. No one dared speak to him.

Suddenly, something clicked in Twilights mind. She finally realized. It’s all so clear now.

“What’s that, Twilight? Are you finally realizing the error of your ways? When faced with a decision, you chose what you wanted. This, in turn, impacted the life of a stallion ready to die. After all these years, you still have feelings for him. It’s not what he wanted. He wanted his family to be safe, to live their lives. He wanted the family name to continue. Because of you, his bloodline ends here. Your childish love story caused the end of two innocent souls. You realize that the same will happen here, unless you listen. Listen to their pleading Twilight…”

Listen to their pleading.

Jigsaw’s statement echoed in Twilight’s mind. She wished she could just turn back time and make the right decision. But inside she knows that can’t happen. It’s all her fault, and she has to deal with the consequences.

Please, Twilight…

Twilight now understands what she must do.

She slowly shifts over to a small red lever on her right, and pulls on it with both hooves. She did not understand the exact use of the lever, but the sound of grinding gears could be heard underneath the chilling floor. The same sound could be heard on Rainbow’s side, then on Pinkie’s. The choice has been made.

Nothing happened.

Twilight was confused, and then she remembered.

“Do not get too excited. You still have one vote pending,” The voice said.

A feeling of dread lingered as Twilight realized it wouldn’t be that easy to convince Half-Track.

“Look…Uhh…I’m really sorry about your family…” Twilight began.

“Oh I bet you are. I also bet you said the same thing to all the “faithful citizens” you turned down in their time of need, huh?” He remarked.

“Do you really think I am that god damn stupid to just bow down and listen to what you say? You think you can just say you’re sorry and amends are made? You killed off my only two reasons for living. Now I’m going to do the same.”

Twilight was shocked at that statement.

There’s no way he can actually do that. He’s not going to do what I think he will do, right? Twilight thought to herself.

“I want you to feel the same pain. I want you to suffer as I suffered,” He explained.

“Half-Track, please! You can’t do this! They’re our friends too!” Pinkie shouted tearfully.

“Even better. I bet Twilight is used to that. Causing her friends’ suffering through her own actions.”

If Twilight could see his expression through these walls, she knew he would be grinning.

Twilight jumped as the wall next to her began to shake, dust particles scattered around at each vibration.

“I swear I’ll punch your stupid face in!” Rainbow shouted though the walls as she pounded them with both hooves.

A sudden feeling of rage surged through Twilight’s body as she became enraged at Half-Track’s behavior. She was at a loss of words. The only thing she could do was stomp her hoof on the floor and pray that her friends could convince him to make some decision, anything. They couldn’t.

“Ten seconds,” The voice said.

It was now or never. She had to try.

“Half-Track, please, DON’T DO THIS! PLEASE!!” Twilight screamed through tearful eyes, throwing herself against the nearest wall.

“It’s too late,” He began.

“You caused this. You must face the consequences.”

Several voices began shouting and pleading, nothing seemed to work.

“5…4…3…2…” The voice counted down.

Time had begun to slow down for twilight, her heart pacing increasingly faster by each passing millisecond. One second felt like an eternity. And in this one second, she could feel one, and only one emotion.

Hatred.

It is not in her nature. She is not a violent pony, but something changed. She wanted Half-Track to suffer. She wanted her captor to suffer. Everyone that had crossed her needed to suffer. She hated the world in that one moment. She could think of a million ways to torture those that angered her, but none of these would extinguish the fire that roared in her heart. For every tear that dropped, she boiled from her immense rage. The cold, dank room she resided in instantly became scorching from her insatiable wrath. She would kill every last one of them if she had to.

Kill them all

“One,” The voice echoed.

In an instant, Twilight’s rage had ceased, and she felt one more emotion.

Fear.

The mechanisms attached to Applejack and Fluttershy’s heads had violently opened, ripping their lower jaw completely away from their skull, tearing flesh and skin. Blood painted the walls around them, as their bodies slumped lifelessly to the similarly chilled floor. Twilight felt yet another feeling.

Sadness.

A bloodcurdling shriek came from Twilight as she lost total control over her emotions. Her body collapsed, showering Twilight in darkness.

All was silent.

Silence.