#fp chapter start

Sure enough, once you’ve recovered your composure enough to venture onwards, you find the twists and turns of the mirror maze greatly reduced. Within moments, in fact, you’re turning corners and running into the rest of your classmates, most of you noticeably the worse for wear after your misadventures.

And then you’re at the exit. Ryuuta and Tama seem to have been the first to arrive, and as the last of you gathers at the door the vertical bars preventing any exit slide up... the door unlocks... and swings open. The tepid air of the underground city floods in, accompanied by the faint, distant noises of the ongoing carnival. It’s over. Well, for now.

Walking out of the maze you feel dizzy, exhausted, and generally strange. It feels odd to know there won’t be a trial this time. The motive had gone off, the threat had been fulfilled. You all made the choice, and Satoshi and Yukiteru had paid the price.

As you file out, rapid movement nearby catches your attention, and you turn in surprise to find the Smiling Devil is apparently engaged in some sort of duel with a figure dressed all in black. The stranger is extremely fast, darting in under the Devil’s rapid jabs and taking swipes with a short blade, then dancing back again, weaving around each counterattack with grace. However far from being frustrated, the Devil is laughing as he pursues them, as if this is some sort of game to him.

“Look, there they are! Just like I said, safe an’ sound. Well, most of ‘em. You can stop with the pointless heroics now. That bleedin’ heart of yours really is gonna get you killed one of these days, Flower.” He says, making a gesture towards the bedraggled lot of you, but the Flower doesn’t even spare a glance your way, never taking their eyes off the Devil.

“You shouldn’t have sent them in there! You know what could have happened! You can’t control Jack-of-Smiles, and you can’t control the Fingerkings!” They snap at him, “This isn’t part of your deal, Devil, and you know it. You’re che-”

It happens quicker than you could blink, one second it’s an argument, the next the Devil has them by the wrists, slamming them into the side of the tent covering the building the maze is in. The Flower cries out, then smacks the heel of one foot against the wall, triggering a blade in the toe of their boot which they drive forward into the Devil’s shin. He doesn’t even flinch.

“I liked this suit.” He says in mild tones, though his smile has vanished as he glares down at them, “Maybe I oughta rip your skin off and make a new one. Floral patterns are pretty fashionable, ain’t they?”

“Go ahead.” The Flower shoots back, “Do it. Show them what you really are.” They stare each other down for a moment... then the Devil smiles again, wide and bright, and lets go. He steps back, apparently oblivious to the blood dripping down his leg.

“Aw come on, as if I really would.” He laughs flippantly, and promptly walks away, without the slightest hint of a limp. The Flower exhales in a heavy sigh, then turns towards all of you and winces.

“That could have gone... well, a lot worse, actually.” They shake their head, “You should all head back to the Boarding House and get some rest. Stop by to see the Necromancer if you’re injured, he can help.” For a second it seems like they might say something else, but then they just turn to leave as well, gingerly rubbing one of their wrists.

You’ve lost x2 Classmates (New Total: 12).

 The sound of a sardonic slow clap jars you out of your horrified reverie as the projection of the execution ends and the lights flick back on, projector and screen withdrawing once more, until next time...

The Smiling Devil is already standing at the door, and her ironic applause ends as you all look over. Something shifts uneasily in you, a question, a thought, wondering if this is a routine you’ll end up getting used to.

“Aw don’t look so sad, look at it this way- at least it wasn’t you. Right? And he really did do an abysmal job covering up after himself, even though it was such a straightforward kill! If he’d just done one or two things different, he mighta gotten clean away. Y’all really dodged a bullet with that one. So perk up, and c’mon, can’t have y’all dawdlin’ down here forever.” She waves you forward, and ushers the lot of you up the long winding stairs, through the Embassy, and back out onto the murky street of Ladybones.

“Ah, right, I have some excitin’ news that oughta take your minds off your woes for a bit. We’ve decided to let you wander a little farther from the nest! If you go down the end of the street here and pass through the Hangman’s Arch, you’ll find yourselves in Veilgarden. I’m sure y’all’ve been feelin’ a little cooped up, so have fun seein’ what the Bohemians have to offer, why don’t you?”

“Do be careful, though. The game ain’t over, an’ besides... actions have consequences, my delicious little darlin’s. Mind you don’t go down any dark alleys alone.” She laughs, waves at all of you dismissively, then turns and walks away, disappearing down the street in a matter of seconds.

You’ve lost x2 Classmates (New Total: 14). 

The projector cuts out and retracts back into the ceiling, the audio stops playing, and the panels slide back into place. It’s over. However before the shock has truly faded, the Devil is calling to you from over by the door.

“Now that’s what I call a mighty fine film. But unfortunately there ain’t gonna be an encore, so y’all need to get on up outta here. Come along now.” She gestures for you to leave, and moves out of the doorway, waiting until the last of you has passed through before she closes it. There’s the sound of a lock clicking into place, and she leads you back up, up, up the staircase and through the lobby of the Brass Embassy. Other devils watch you pass or get out of your way, some of them smirk but none of them make any attempt to interact with you.

Once you’re out on the street again she leads you towards the Steelthorn Theater, and you realize something almost immediately:

The fence is gone. There’s no longer any barrier between the theater, boarding house, and pump house and the rest of the street. Before any of you can ask, the Devil laughs again.

“That’s right, you’re all free to wander around Ladybones Road now. Try not to get yerselves killed- unless it’s by each other. The rest of Fallen London is still off limits, for now. Don’t want you gettin’ in too deep too fast. If you attempt to leave the street, one of us will stop you, I guarantee it- and it’ll be for your own good. Now, I hope y’all have learned a little somethin’... the only way you’re gettin’ home is if you win this game we got goin’ on. And if no one feels like playin’ then I may just have to give you another extra incentive in the near future. Of course, if any of you have anythin’ else you want, any problems you’d like solved or advantages you might want to have, feel free to call on me. I’m always willin’ to strike a deal.”

“One of you is already a satisfied customer.” With that she gives you all a little wave, turns on her heel, and starts walking away down the street.

What does that mean?

You’ve lost x2 Classmates (New total: 16).