First Truth

Indie (Beyond Reality - present)

When we make our way back to the classroom Ilya holds his hand up to Scalene. 

“Give me the paper,” Ilya says. “The one with the riddle.”

Scalene does as such and Ilya makes his way to the front of the room with the blue box. He shoves the yellow note into the hole on top.

There’s a loud ringing that sounds like a bell. It pierces our ears with its radiating, deep sound. The room begins filling with millions of yellow sheets that spiral around us.

“Ah!” I hear Pan grunt. “Ilya what did you do?”

“Just wait. He will appear soon.”

“Who?” Scalene says.

Just then the noise dissipates and the papers fall to the ground. I look up and my eyes gaze upon on new person in the room. The person dressed in all black with a hood concealing their face. Their hands are folded behind their back and they give off grime-reaper vibes.

“State your answer. Who amongst your group has committed the sin of Gluttony?”

The voice of this person is deep and mysterious. A tinge of familiarity hits my memory.

“Do not answer incorrectly.”

Fear spreads through me.

“It was me and Indie,” Ilya says.

The seven of us stare at Ilya and then back to the strange person at the front of the room. 

“Ilya, what-“ Scalene says. “Who is this person?”

Ilya sighs and shuts his eyes. “His name is Ickus. He is my demon half. And we’re playing his little demon game.”

“Your- demon?” I say.

The man in the cloak looks up at Ilya with a disturbing smile. His face resembles Ilya’s in every way possible with his blue eyes, freckles, gentle features, and blonde hair. He’s a shade paler - almost greyer - and carries an eeriness to put your nervous system on high alert. Ultimately though, he is the spitting image of Ilya.

Ickus suddenly appears directly in front of Ilya without even moving. I jump at Ickus’ sudden movement of grabbing Ilya’s right ear. Ilya shrieks in pain. 

“Ilya!” Scalene says. She’s by Ilya’s side and attempting to pull Ilya away from the demon.

“Explain why,” Ickus says, his voice practically a hiss.

Ilya looks up at Scalene and then breaks eye contact with her.

“We ate the wedding cake,” Ilya says. “We ate Scalene’s wedding cake.”

Scalene stares at Ilya.

“We didn’t tell you. We were both selfishly-“

“It was my fault,” I say. 

“No Indie-“ Ilya says.

Ickus’ head turns slowly in my direction and his eyes glow a subtle shade of red. He lets go of Ilya’s ear and walks towards me calmly. I try my best to stand strong. Ickus proceeds to take hold of my hair and yank it hard. I shriek.

“Indie!” Rêve says.

“I messed up,” I say, tears forming in my eyes. “I couldn’t finish making the cake on time because I screwed it up the day of the wedding and I ended up letting Scalene down. Scalene I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay Indie,” Scalene says. “I forgive you.” 

Ickus grunts and releases my hair. Without so much as a flinch, he’s beside Scalene now clasping his hand around her throat. We all gasp and Ilya shouts at his Demon self. 

“Listen here,” Ickus says. “I don’t give a damn if you forgive each other or what not. Your forgiveness means nothing when you can’t even remember to what extent she even betrayed you. I’m here to deliver a special kind of torture to all eight who hide ugly secrets from each other despite claiming to be friends.”

“We are friends,” Ilya says. “Just because we make mistakes and lie at times doesn’t mean we don’t trust each other.”

“Trust? What a silly little word you hide behind because you’re too afraid to be honest with each other. Though I don’t necessarily blame you. Lies of omission can be more comforting to the ear.”

Scalene gasps at Ickus tightened grip. He relaxes and Scalene takes in sharper breaths.

“Stop it Ickus, we got your first riddle correct,” Ilya says. “We passed your first test.”

Ickus stares at Ilya and then lets go of Scalene. Scalene coughs and crumbles to the ground. Lee goes to console her.

“Not yet you haven’t,” Ickus says. His glare fixates and he points to me. I freeze. “She still hides the truth.”

“I-I-I-“

“Why did you really eat the cake?”

As soon as he asks this question memories come flooding back to my brain. It’s so overwhelming that it feels like my mind mentally breaking. 

“She messed up the cake and felt bad for letting Scalene down,” Ilya says. “Then we ate it together without thinking about the hurt it would’ve caused Scalene.”

Ickus turns to Ilya and smiles. For a small moment, I see a blade in his hand. 

“No- that’s not it!” I say, holding my hand up.

Ickus turns to me.

“I-I didn’t mess up the cake. Or actually I did. I did it on purpose. I-“

Ickus appears to be growing inpatient. I clench my fists.

“I didn’t want to go to the wedding. I hated that Scalene was getting married. I wished everyday for so long that the wedding wouldn’t happen. And I hated myself for feeling that way so pretended to not be bothered. I agreed to make the cake and be apart of the ceremony but then I sabotaged the cake. Several times.”

“Indie-“ I hear Rêve’s voice say.

Ickus doesn’t say anything at first. He moves towards me and holds my chin to level his eyes with mine. 

“Ding, ding, ding sweet little Indie,” he says and then takes a step away, grinning. “Ah it’s such a shame that none of you recall anything otherwise her little confession will hold more weight.”

I’m shaking and my throat tightens. 

“No matter,” Ickus says. “The next few tests will not be this easy. I promise.”

I feel a million tiny paper cuts on my body. I barely see anything but yellow. Then everything fades to black.

There’s a pounding in my head and my ears are ringing. I open my eyes and view a whiteboard straight ahead. Surrounding me are various desks. The yellow papers are gone. And so is Ickus.