Chapter Text
Disclaimer: I don’t own anything from Escape the Night. I just own any and all characters that I just happen create.
CHAPTER FOUR: YOUTUBERS ARE ALIVE!
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After walking for a bit, Joey spotted an archway covered with vines and he pushed them aside so that they could step through, and found themselves in a large courtyard, eyes wide at what was right in front of them.
“What is this?” Bretman asked, more confused than ever.
In the middle of the courtyard were ten tall glass cases set up in a circle around a glowing stump that had vines running from it, and into the bases of the cases that also had glowing orbs in each of them. Each YouTuber was frozen in a different pose, and each of them were dressed in outfits that they had definitelyhad not died in originally.
“Omigosh,” Joey whispered as they got closer, entering the circle. “They’re really here.”
“We found them,” Dawn whispered, knowing that this wasn’t all of their friends, but it was a step in the right direction.
“Joey, Dawn,” Bretman whispered, feeling uneasy since he realized that these figures looked like some of the YouTubers that’d died over two years ago for some and just nine months ago for three of them. “I’m scared.”
Jack put down the torch and patted the playboy on the shoulder. “It’ll be fine, this is what we were looking for,” he said reassuringly. ‘And since they’re here, that means my friend is here somewhere, too.’
Moving around the circle, they found that the outfits weren’t the only things different about their friends, they had clearly been given new personas, and the orbs were showing on an endless loop of their final moments before dying.
The first case held Justine Ezarik, who was now being referred to as the Adventurer and had a smirk on her face, with her long blonde hair parted to the side, and she was wearing a white blouse that was decorated by a little green ribbon on the collar, a snazzy grey jacket covered it, and she also had on black pants and knee-high black boots.
The orb in front of her was showing the final moments of when she was being buried alive back at the 1920s house, with Joey and Dawn being held back and unable to stop it.
The second case held Timothy DeLaGhetto, who was now known as the Con Man. He was wearing glasses, a brown jacket with almost-invisible little white lines on it, a pale blue shirt, beige pants, brown shoes, and a gaudy red kerchief covered with yellow symbols. The orb in front of him was showing the final moments when he shot himself in the head in order to save Eva’s life.
The third case held Benny Smith, who was now known as the Marine. He was wearing a khaki long-sleeve button-up shirt, khaki tie with tie clasp, green pants with kaki web belt and gun, a green coat with a few marksmanship badges, and black shoes. The orb in front of him was showing the final moments when he was electrocuted by the electric chair, and Dawn hadn’t been able to save him.
The fourth case held DeStorm Power, who was now known as the Enforcer. He was wearing a hat, only it was a brown cap instead. He was also wearing a dark blue coat, a white shirt, a red tie, brown pants, black shoes, and a pair of black gloves that exposed his knuckles. The orb in front of him was showing the final moments when he was executed by the Dark Army and fell backwards into the pool.
The fifth case held Tana Mongeau, who was now known as the Pin-up Girl. Her platinum blonde hair was covered by a rose-pink cowboy hat, alow-cut pink top, a pink half-jacket-half-sash, with an extra pair of pink sleeves, a short pink skirt with white fringe, pink cowboy boots, and a black belt that was held together by a giant golden clasp. The orb in front of her was showing the final moments of when the ice guardian sliced her across the stomach to kill her because of being betrayed that fateful night at the Victorian mansion.
The sixth case held Gabbie Hanna, who was now known as the Hollywood Star and was vastly different. Her hair was short and golden, saved for the dark brown roots, and she was shining in a dazzling pink evening gown that was accentuated by diamonds and feathers, along with an intricate diamond necklace and many gold earrings. The orb in front of her was showing the final moments of when one of the Promethean Men plunged his fist into her chest, ripping out her still-beating heart in order to give the Automaton Bride to life at the Victorian mansion.
The seventh case held Alex Wassabi, who was now known as the Aviator. He was wearing a dark brown aviator jacket, a pair of aviator goggles, awhite button-down shirt, khaki pants, black knee-high boots, and a white kerchief tied around his neck. The orb in front of him was showing the final moments of when he was thrown to the ground in the Dark Dimension, and stabbed to death by the Guardian.
The eighth case held Colleen Ballinger, who was now known as the Duchess and had a stern expression on her face with one finger posed to lecture while her other hand was on her hip. She was wearing a red dress with a pink ribbon on the collar, a long blue coat, and sparkling heels. A light yellow hat with a bow around its brim rested on top of her head, and it was providing a decent contrast to her artfully arranged dark hair.
The orb in front of her was showing the final moments of when she was being forced into the Maiden of Madness during the mission in Everlock nine months ago by those she had considered friends, only to be betrayed by them, and Dawn trying and failing to save her from that cruel fate.
The ninth case held Esther Bourne, who was now known as the Lounge Singer. Her long blonde hair was curled, she had on a sleeveless white satin gown with a white feather boa, diamond earrings, a diamond necklace, and glittery white heels. The orb in front of her was showing the final moments of her drinking poisoned tea and dying in the tea room at the hotel in Everlock.
The tenth and final case held Rosanna ‘Ro’ Pansino, who was now known as the Socialite and she was smiling and was looking ready to speak. She was clothed in a neat little navy blue dress with white buttons and white polka dots. Her fluffy white mink coat, her pearl necklaces, her white gloves, her heels, and her tiny-yet-proper hat completed her new appearance.
The orb in front of her was showing the final moments of her being laid down on a fur-covered altar and she was being sacrificed by the witches as they plunged their daggers into her chest.
Stunned by the sight, Jack let go of Jermaine’s arm and began scanning with his Vortex manipulator while the ex-blogger wandered around the glass cases with a shocked expression on his face since he thought these people were dead, and yet here they were rightin front of him…well, some of them.
Dawn went to the case that Benny was in, staring at his motionless form saluting, and she gently placed her hands on the glass, resting her forehead on the cold surface as well. “Benny,” she whispered, shutting her eyes and taking a deep breath. “I’m gonna get you out of here this time, I promise.” ‘I’m going to save him, and no one is going to stop me.’
“Colleen.” Joey went to the case that Colleen was in, stopping in his tracks when he saw her death scene being played out in an endless loop, and he felt his heart breaking all over again. “Colleen,” he whispered, staring at her. “I’m sorry.”
Bretman was checking out the exhibits like a tourist on a tour and stopped next to the case holding Alex, and he was clearly interested in the young Asian man. ‘This isn’t the party I was expecting,’ he thought, searching the case for a means to open it, ‘but this boy is cute, and Nikita did promise me that there would be cute boys.’
“Ok, can someone explain to me why there are dead YouTubers in these cases when they should be buried six feet under the ground?” Jermaine demanded, breaking the silence.
“They’re not dead, Jermaine,” Dawn snapped, turning to face him with a hard expression on her face. “At least, not for much longer.”
Jack examined the results from the scans. “They’re alive all right,” he reported, looking around again. “It looks like they’re in some kind of stasis and seemed to be living different lives without being aware of what’s going on around them.”
“Is there any way we can get them out?” Bretman inquired, he had a hand on the case containing Alex, having failed to find a way to open it.
“This looks to be the power source that’s keeping them inside the cases,” said the former time agent, pointing to the glowing stump.
Dawn walked around the stump, examining the vines, and looked at the cases, seeing where the vines were ending. “It looks like these vines are connecting the power source to the display cases,” she remarked. “Maybe if we can somehow break the connection, we can free our friends. But how?”
Joey looked around, feeling that the brunette was right, and noticed a large axe that was resting on a small table. Getting an idea, he went over to the table, set the torch down and picked up the axe, which was on the heavy side, and turned to face the power source.
“Uh, what are you planning on doing with that axe?” Jermaine asked uneasily.
“What’s that?” Bretman asked, wondering what his friend was up to.
Joey hoped that the axe would work. “I’m gonna try something, ok?”
Dawn looked between the axe and the power source. “Uh, Joey, why not use the axe on the vines instead of the stump?” she suggested.
“I’m with Dawn,” Jack agreed. “The readings coming from that power source indicated that it’s powerful, and breaking it could result in a serious explosion.”
Joey, however, was wanting his friends freed, and he chose not to listen to them. He raised the axe and, with a scream, swung it down on the stump, splitting it in two, and the magical power source exploded, sending magical shockwaves throughout the museum while Dawn, Bretman, Jermaine, and Jack all duck with startled expressions. And all around the courtyard, the glass cases shattered one-by-one.
Justine was the first to be freed, and she immediately duck to avoid the flying glass while looking around in confusion. Tim was next, and he jumped before looking at his outfit in confusion, wondering what the heck he was wearing.
Benny was freed and he immediately dropped into a crouch, reaching for the gun on his hip before registering where he was with a surprised and confused expression.
When DeStorm was freed, he put up an arm to shield his face from the flying glass, and was confused by where he was. The glass shattered and Tana screamed, almost as if she’d just woken up from a nightmare. Gabbie also screamed, but she also duck to avoid the broken glass at the same time, and Alex was surprised when he was freed from the glass case.
Colleen gasped and looked around in confusion when she was freed, Esther dropped and covered her head with her boa, honestly startled, and Ro blinked in confusion, looking around with a perplex expression of where she was and what she was wearing.
The YouTubers were alive!