I am just a puppet.

  My hands, my legs, my neck, are tied with a string that tightens me more and more every day. No, I am not the puppet that is used for the purpose of the show, I am not here to provoke laughter, to make the audience laugh, no, I am not that kind of puppet, but I am still a puppet. No, I am not special, I am one of many. I have no voice, except when my master wants me to, and if I speak, I speak for him. I am not the most beautiful. I am neither happy nor sad, neither combative nor weak, unless my master wants me to. I will only be what is expected of me, not because I am a puppet to be played with, but because I am a trapped puppet, who cannot run the world alone. Yet I am just a puppet.

  I will raise my hand when he asks me to. I will walk in the direction his hand leads me. I will only come to life when he is there, I will die when I no longer see him above me. For me, it is right, because that is how I was taught, I know no other way, except the one he leads me. I was born, and even then someone existed above me, above, with so much power that he made a puppet out of me. Feeling strings that tighten your body, being trapped your whole life, that is normal, they said, that is what they taught us. I never questioned why, because my mind was not allowed to think without his orders. Because I am just a puppet.

  I lay still, waiting for the time when I would be allowed to walk again. Then, I heard music. Ah, that melody. That melody was something that woke me up, something I could not ignore. It was stronger than me. I dared to stand up, alone, without my master guiding me with his hands. I walked quietly, silently, I walked forward, towards the melody. I dared, I stood up, alone. The strings followed me, and slid across the floor behind me. But they were light, they did not bother me. I came almost to the end of the table, to see my master, who was guiding another doll. She danced, as he wanted. She did not resist. I allowed myself to look further, to look around, I saw many dolls that were like me. Some dolls were too damaged, almost thrown away, they no longer had a purpose, they could no longer serve. Some dolls were brand new, full of joy in fact, as if they believed in something more, something better.

  I allowed myself to think, why do I have to be a puppet? Do I want to be just a puppet? Why doesn't my master have his hands tied like me? How did he get to this place? Can't there be someone better? Is our purpose only to serve and obey the rules that monsters have come up with? But, I must not object, after all, I am just a puppet. I retreated, and returned to my place, to my dark corner, to my silence, which for me has never been louder. The day passed, the night came, and I could not stop thinking, something inside me changed. Why does it have to be like this? Does it have to be at all? Can I really be what I want? Can I escape this? But who do I want to be? Actually, it is enough for me to know who I don't want to be. I don't want to be just a puppet!

  The night was quiet, much quieter than the day. I dared to get up, I dared to run. At first I walked slowly with my bare feet, but my steps became faster and faster, until I dared to run, and finally leap to freedom. I jumped to the end of the table, but the part connected to the strings, which my master controlled with me, was too heavy, and I did not fall to the floor. It stopped me. I was hanging in the air, and for the first time in my life, I actually felt their pain, this pain that was around my arms, legs, neck. Using the string, I climbed back onto the table, thinking about my next step. Then, another doll caught my eye, and it was trying to escape. I watched it. It took a knife with which it cut its strings, and in fear, but also in happiness, it ran away.

  I wanted to scream, take me with you! I thought. But then I realized that I had never released my voice, that voice that came out of me, was not mine, it was my master's voice. I wondered what would happen tomorrow when the master realized that the doll had escaped? Would he be sorry? Did he love her Or…Would he find her again only to punish her? I stayed here this night, just because I wanted to see what would happen tomorrow. What I saw when I opened my eyes hurt me. He had replaced her. Now there was a new doll, which did everything the old one did. He had just replaced her. Then I dared to think even more, what if I ran away? Nothing would change. I would live, but the world would remain the same. There was only one way to free myself, one way to free everyone… No, I would no longer be just a doll!

  It was time for the next dance. The melody that had already become dear to my heart was playing again. He was controlling me, but not for long. This time I decided to dance the way I wanted! My hand movements went the way he wanted, my foot movements too, until I stopped. I refused to make the movements he wanted, I refused to accept the power, and live a life where someone rules over me. I stopped, looked him in the eyes, and I saw fear. I jumped as hard as I could, climbing my own strings, he watched me, surprised. I was already too close, he felt the threat, he tried to destroy me before I destroyed him. He threw me, but I managed to jump, and cut my strings. At that moment I was free and high up together along his head. Without the slightest hesitation, I cut his neck.

  I killed him, he was defeated, he was dead. He fell to the ground, and every puppet heard it. Now I was free, we were all free. To gain freedom we only had to understand how valuable we are, how we have the right to live in our own way but also we can fight . We are finally free, because we have understood that we are not just puppets.

  I am not just a puppet!

  ...

  Shared piece is over, let's continue the story...

  Ace and Nuri.

  They are both full of cuts, breathing heavily only few cards left on the wall.

  They barely move they are bloody.

  Ace: Damn it!!

  She yells angry.

  Time is running down, 2 minutes.

  Nuri: Well at least we have only few more to go...

  Ace: Yeah...

  She wanted to pick up the dart but suddenly, every card there was just flew and returned to the wall, mixing with others.

  Ace: Are you fucking kidding me?!!

  She was so mad.

  Ace: It is no use! This is not a game, this is torture! What the hell are we supposed to do!?

  She fells to her knees, and then sits down. Nuri looks down.

  Nuri: I don't know...

  She looks at him.

  Ace: Hey man... you good?

  Nuri: Yeah... I mean... no...

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  She listens and looks at him, they both on the ground, but now fully.

  Nuri: I just hate this feeling... like there is nothing I can do... I feel helpless... I can't protect you... I can't do anything right...

  Ace: Don't go there man...

  Nuri: But it's true... you are all so strong and fearless... you all find a way... and I... I only bring problems along the way, not solutions...

  Ace stands up, in pain.

  Ace: You are starting to piss me off...

  Nuri looks at her.

  Nuri: I am sorry...

  Ace: Stop to apologize for everything... not everything is your fault. The only thing that is your fault, is that kind of thinking right there.

  He looks at her.

  Ace: You are strong, smart, capable, you are good friend, and you bring everyone joy. And I won’t stand there and listen to you talking shit about you!

  She was mad, she picked dart and she threw it, quick, strong. As soon she hit the card, Nuri felt that pain and he screamed. She looked at him.

  Ace: Nuri!

  She started to run towards him, but he raised his hand, stopping her.

  Nuri: I am fine...

  He stands up.

  Ace: What just happened?

  Nuri walks towards the table. He looks at the darts, 21 seconds to go.

  Nuri: I am sick of playing this game... how about you?

  He looked serious, tough, and strong. She noticed the change.

  Ace: What are you...

  Nuri: Stay back.

  Nuri's hands started to produce fire, the fire was running down his arms and spreading to his body. He raised his hand and he burned every card on the wall, ever dart... She looked at him at the sight of burning. Time is up.

  Nuri: There, game over.

  He said cold and looked at her. She looked around to see if anything is going to happen, it was silent but then there was voice.

  Voice: I hate to interrupt such beautiful moment, but you did just broke the rule.

  Ace: What? What rule?

  Voice: It is forbidden to use powers.

  Ace: You never said that? Or... you did?

  Voice: No, I did not, but the guy at the beginning was. Why no one listened? Also that is not the only rule you broke, you broke many.

  Ace: It is not our fault that the game was stupid.

  Voice: It is not my fault you didn't listen the rules.

  He talked like he didn't care. And Ace stayed silent.

  Nuri: And what now?

  Voice: I guess now you will join some of your friends, tell them I said hey.

  The floor beneath them opens and they fell down. Nuri first, then Ace.

  Rho and Rikka

  Rikka: Is that a door?

  Rho walks towards it, and opens it. They walk inside, it is a huge room. In the shadows were standing two figures, no one noticed them yet. Rikka and Rho look around, the door behind them closes.

  Rikka: What do you think we need to do now?

  Voice: Hello again, how are my favourite competitors?

  Rho cold and calm.

  Rho: Competitors? Rules from beginning never mentioned that this was a game.

  Voice was silent for a bit, surprised she even bothered to listen rules from the beginning… Then he spoke.

  Voice: Oh you see, those are old rules, I decided to change them a bit, now ready for the next challenge?

  Rho: Challenge, that word I like, they also exist in your so called “Old rules”

  Voice was confused, so was Rikka.

  Voice: Well, for me this is still a game, game that I am watching but you are the players, so if you want to win and get out, you will listen to those rules.

  Rho: And what if we are not your puppets?

  Rikka was confused but she held her back!

  Rikka: Yeah! What she said!

  Voice: Well… then you won’t get out and you two would be stuck with each other for a long time.

  Rikka: Yeah… Sorry red but I choose to be a puppet this time.

  She said in teasing way.

  Rho: Okay… What is the game?

  Voice: That is the spirit! At the beginning of the game a lot of traps will appear. You see that door over there? (Across the room), there is your freedom, but, to get there you need to follow the rules.

  Rho: And they are?

  Voice: One of you has to put a blindfold that is over there, and the other one needs to lead the first one only by her words. It is a game of trust. The one who guides, always has to be few feet away, can't touch or guide with pushing the other or with any kind of physical touch, you may guide only by words. And when you get to the end the key of the door will find you... good luck.

  Voice stays quiet but he is watching. Rho picks the blindfold, and starts to tie it over her eyes. She knows what the game truly was about… she wrote the rules, but did he followed the rules? Now she would truly find out.

  Rikka: What are you doing?

  Rho: What it looks like I am doing?

  Rikka: I can't guide you! If I guide you, you will end up dead!

  Rho: Well, if you ever wanted to kill me, now is your chance.

  She talked calm. And tied blindfold.

  Rikka: Seriously...

  Rho turns towards her.

  Rho: Everything is going to be okay... even without your guidance I can manage, so don't worry about it.

  Rikka annoyed a bit.

  Rikka: Of course you do... is there anything you can't do?

  She said sarcastic but Rho was thinking.

  Rikka: It was a rhetorical question!

  Rho: Let's just get over with.

  She turns in the right direction, and some traps starts to appear around, it looked like tough challenge.

  Rin and Kaya.

  They hear some sound.

  Rin: You hear that?

  Kaya: Yeah, it kind of sounds like....

  Nuri fells in front of them, even more in pain.

  Kaya and Rin: Nuri?!

  Nuri coughs.

  Nuri: Well, nice to see you too...

  Kaya: Are you all right?!

  He was covered in blood. Then there was sound of Ace falling, Rin noticed, she was falling and he quickly caught her in his arms. She was confused a bit and she looked at him.

  Rin looked at her.

  Rin: Are you all right?

  Ace: Yeah... you can put me down...

  Rin puts her down, and then he notices all the cuts on her and Nuri.

  Kaya: What happened to you two?

  Nuri stands up.

  Nuri: Long story...

  Rin approaches Ace, he takes his long scar that he wears around his waist.

  Rin: Sit.

  He said calm, and he forced her to sit.

  Ace: What are you doing?

  He started to clean her wounds. Nuri looks at him.

  Nuri: How come you don't care about my wounds?

  Rin: Ladies first.

  He talked calm.

  Nuri: Or only Ace comes first...

  He mumbled, Ace looked at him with a death stare. He smiled.

  Kaya: I have some medication with me, it should help.

  She treats Nuri's wound, and she gave some pill to the Ace.

  Ace: No thanks... I prefer not to use medication.

  Kaya: But it will help you...

  Ace: I am fine...

  Rin: You are not, you will drink this.

  He takes the pill and gives it to her. Ace looks at him. And sights.

  Ace: Fine...

  She drinks it as she glance at Nuri, laughing at her in teasing way… She gave him a cold look then looked away.

  Ace: What are you guys doing here?

  Rin: We broke the rule, well, I did.

  Nuri: Look at that, mister perfect can break a rule.

  Rin: And why are you here?

  Nuri looks away

  Nuri: Someone also broke the rule... but it really doesn't matter who…

  Kaya looks at him.

  Kaya: Nuri... Ace doesn't have powers.

  Nuri: Oh fine... it was me!

  Kaya laughs a bit.

  Kaya: I am so glad you two are fine... well more or less, what happened?

  Ace: Some sick game... we kind of didn't listen to the rules...

  Kaya: How that happened?

  Nuri: It happened because SOMEONE (he points at Ace) couldn't control their anger!

  She looks at him with death stare.

  Rin: So you played one game?

  Ace: No, we played two games, but we failed at this one.

  Nuri: Don't tell me you didn't even get to the second game?

  Rin: Shut up.

  He still cleans Ace's wounds, and Nuri laughs hard.

  Ace: How long are you guys in here?

  Kaya: For a while... we still don't know the way out.

  Nuri: Do you think he will let us go eventually?

  Kaya and Rin looks at each other.

  Nuri: What was that look?

  Rin: We... found a body in here.

  Nuris eyes widen, Ace surprised.

  Ace: What? A body?

  Nuri: Dead body?

  Kaya nods. Nuri stands up.

  Nuri: Hell no! I am not staying here even one more minute!

  Rin: And how are you planning to get out smart guy?

  Nuri: Don't you talk to me like that.

  Rin: Why not, I am older then you.

  Nuri: 5 minutes!!

  Kaya stops them.

  Kaya: Okay guys, seriously, it is not time for that, we need to find a way out of here.

  Ace stands up.

  Ace: I agree, I can't stand to be here even one more second.

  Nuri: What's the plan?

  They looked at each other.

  Past - Rho entering the mountain, talking with Light spirit.

  Spirit: As you wish… Just remember this, Your condition is “Do not kill for” a reason.

  Rho: I know, I understand… But…

  She turns to look the spirit.

  Rho: I will show you that you are wrong, there is a better reason for break it.

  Spirit: Then I dare you… Show me the other way.