"Welcome, welcome! Most distinguished and honored guests!......." It was her guide! But 'her' was now a 'he' and then something else. It was shifting, right before her very eyes! She wandered, if she was the only person seeing the horrific transition. The chatter got louder, as the host/hostess or creature spoke. Up in the VIP section, a group of children dressed in white robes, began to march on to the stage. It was not exactly clear, where they were coming from. But in they came and the stage they climbed,
"Now grab your glasses, for our covenant exercise," the host/hostess/creature announced. "That would be called a toast," for some of the newer ones. "And by new, we don't mean you haven't met the requirements. And/or paid the price of qualification." Each invitee, lifted the glass next to them on the table. They were filled with red liquid. "As the other side would say...." Those who were once on the other side, knew or understood what the host was talking about, laughed. "This is 'their' blood, drained for you. Drink it, in remembrance of their agony." They drank.
The vip level on top, rumbled with excitement as theirs were more like mugs of the liquid. "Now to commence our feast, chunks of the sacrifice you see at the center of your table, has been been cut out for you. Even if you recognize who they are, please don't tell." The hall roared with laughter. "This is their body, tortured and torn for you. Do this in remembrance of their anguish." Lips smacking in pleasure, could be heard all over the hall. "Now for our last exercise together, open up your gift boxes. And while you do that, I call on our resident witch and expert cook. A most powerful artist, as you all know. To lead you through...."
The first cries of terror, began from the vip section. The bespectacled man and the very popular politician, had received one of the biggest gift boxes. And as they clicked it open, huge ball of flames engulfed them. They jumped and turned in agony, but the burning fire clung to them like a second skin. Others saw what had happened and began to fling their gift boxes away. But somehow, the boxes found their way back to it's rightful owner, opened up and began to spit flames on them.
The stage with the performing children, began to lift. It rose above the fray, like a rocket ready to launch. The little bodies spread out on the vip table, began to snap upright. The wires used to fasten their limbs, began to snap. They too became airborne, exiting the structure, like the stage. The hosting cooking witch, could be heard screaming into the microphone. As she too, was engulfed in scorching flames. The young woman looked around, frantically. The whole place was furiously incinerating. What looked like an exit or entrance earlier, was now completely sealed. As if it never was. All the children, had shut right through the roof and now that too was sealed shut.
The young woman managed to crawl over, to where the first host had been standing. But all she saw, was a cloud of smoke. "Looking for me?" The voice was behind her, shaking with laughter. She swung around in despair. "Yes, yes. What happened?" She managed, coughing as smoke filled her lungs. "What happened, is that this party is over. It had to end, at some point. Or did you not think so?" More laughter. "Listen, as much as I enjoyed all the sacrifices, death and devastation, from this chapter. I still have more ground to cover."
"You on the other hand," he now made a sweeping circling motion, with his hand. "Every one of you here, just chose your destination. That's all. Now I have to leave, to tend to other evils. See you soon." She just stared in disbelief, as a searing pain began to climb her legs. Just then, someone leaped off the vip table and landed on the ground next to her. He writhed in agonizing terror, as the fiery flame, melted his glasses right into his eyeballs. She looked away in disgust, from the deteriorating man. Just in time to see her guide, change into a fierce looking creature and walk right through the fiery walls. He was laughing too....
The End.