Divided Swan

Entry - Half Lost Competition

Long story short, Annalise gets kidnapped by Mercury. The latter demands a £10 million pound ransom for her release. If not, she threatens to burn Annalise alive.

Nathan (keeps repeating): I must find Annalise. I must save her.

Nathan: But I don’t have the money. What am I going to do?

Arran: Nathan, the half-bad books have a very loyal fanbase. The readers like you. They care for you and they will help you, I’m pretty sure of that.

Nathan: Great idea, Arran.

Some time later, Nathan gathers the whole fanbase together and explains the predicament that Annalise is in.

Nathan: So you see, guys, Annalise will be burned to death if we don’t do something. Please, I need your help. Donate as much as you can. Every little bit counts.

Fandom (almost chanting in unison): Sure thing, Nathan. We will help you.

Later that day, Nathan checks with Arran about the donations.

Nathan: Have we managed to reach the target of 10 million?

Arran looks very uncomfortable.  

Nathan: What?

Arran: The fans have donated quite a lot, it’s beyond expectations but… it’s not what we expected.

Nathan: Didn’t we raise enough money?

Arran:  Let’s get into that room, you’ll see.

Arran and Nathan enter a new room.

Arran (awkwardly): Here’s what the fans donated.

Inside the room, all you can see is: countless containers of petrol, boxes of wooden matches, lighters…

Nathan is dumbfounded and looks at Arran who says embarrassed:

“Let’s just say fans made it pretty clear how they feel about Annalise.”