Fan: The Game of Casket

Chapter One: The Question
It started with one word.

And ended with another.

But it started with pain.

"Pain"

"And this wittle one said he wanted more syrup!" Sally said.

"But he wouldn't have WANTED more syrup if she had given him the right amount..." Billy said.

"Yes but-Oh, great, now I want some waffles...See Billy, he made me all hungry!" Sally said sadly.

Just then, Gertrude came into Sally's room, where she and Billy were playing Barbies. "That is cute, guys, but we need to stop playing. Come down and eat pizza", Gertrude said. Sally's eyes opened wide "Do we have waffles, too? I want some waffles! I really love them...Really, really, really-" "Thats enough, Sally sweete, I get it. We don't have waffles, but if you eat quietly, I can buy some for mornings". "YAY! Come on, Billy, its time to eat". Billy followed Sally and Gertrude down the stairs of the Acachalla house where, sloppily, Papa Acachalla was eating a slice of pizza. When he saw Gertrude coming down the stairs, he stood up from his love seat and held up the pizza slice high. "There you are, woman! This is just sausage...I ASKED FOR SAUSAGE AND CANADIAN BACON!", he screamed. Gertrude moaned, "Next time YOU can call the pizza house, Acachalla! I've had it up to-", Gertrude started, but was interuppted by a large smash coming from the kitchen. Billy ran to the kitchen, gasped, and ran back to Gertrude. "Mama Gertrude, Sally knocked over the soda bottles. Can I help clean it up this time?", Billy asked hopefully. Gertrude stood there, looking into space, before exploding into rage. "I HAVE HAD IT UP TO HERE WITH THIS PLACE! I am GOING OUT to eat a GOOD MEAL FOR ONCE!", she turned to Papa Acachalla "AND YOU GIVE THESE POOR KIDS WHATEVER THEY WANT!". Still fuming, Gertrude grabbed her keys and stormed out the front door, fuming. The kids and Papa stood still looking at the door for while before Sally broke the silence. "Papa, I'm so hungry, I think I'm going to explode with hunger...", Sally groaned. Papa stuffed the rest of his pizza down his throat and walked to the kitchen. Opening the fridge, he grabbed a few beer bottles. He tossed one to Sally and another to Billy. "Drink up". Both the grown-kids looked at their bottles of Shiner Bock. Billy opened the bottle and smelled it. "Bleh! Papa, this isn't for kids. We're hungry! I want pizza!"

"And waffles for me, please, thank you very MUCH", Sally said, chin raised up.

Even thought both Billy AND Sally were old enough to drink, he didn't want to break their fantasy of being kids...even if they both knew they WEREN'T. Papa Acachalla looked around the room for pizza. He spotted the empty pizza box. The guy could eat plenty of pizza. Just then, Papa's stomach growled loudly. It sounded like a howling dog and an engine exploding. "Should've gotten a large, that Gertrude shoulda...", he muttered. He stood up with a start "Kids, we're going out to eat. McDonalds isn't that far out. Get your shoes on." Sally and Billy cheered as they put on their velcro-fastened sneakers. They got into the old Toyota and drove off out of the driveway. Billy kept on talking to himself about some sort of lemon ascots, and Sally kept herself entertained by singing about Freddie and about how he needs a tooth checkup. Papa, however, put earplugs in for the drive. As they went along the road, through the city, they saw the burger joint, McDonalds. "Get out. We're here", Papa said gruffly. As soon as the kids and Papa Acachalla stepped out of the car, however, a teenager in a dark blue hoodie with red splotches walked up to them. The boy smiled. "Why, hello, Sir. I think you know who I am".

Papa looked scared out of his wits. The kids just stared at him. "Papa, that isn't BLOOD on his sweater-weather-mether, is it?" Sally asked softly. Papa didn't take his eyes off the smiling teenager. "Billy, Sally, get in the car...Lock the doors.". The children silently obeyed. After they closed their doors. Papa raised his fists. "What do you want know, Casket?", He said, teeth clenched. The teenager threw back the hood of his hoodie, exposing dark, curly hair and a scar on his pale cheeck. "So, you remember me, Papa Acachalla...is it? Yes, it is. Teehee!" Jimmy said gleefully. He started circling Papa, and Papa did the same. "If you're here to kill me, good. Put me out of my misery", he nudged his chin to his car, where Billy was tapping on the glass window and Sally was falling asleep. Jimmy laughed "Oh my, I don't want to kill you...Thats THEIR job...", he said vaugly. They both stopped circling. "What do you-Who?", Papa asked. Jimmy stepped closer to Papa. "Follow me now.", he whispered. Papa Acachalla was about to refuse, but then he looked back at the kids in the car. He turned back to the crazed teen. "Fine".

As they walked for about 15 mintues, Papa noticed they were going down a chain of allyways, filled with beggars and mingy cats. As they went through the last one, it was perfectly clean. There was a door at the end of the ally-hallway made of, what looked like, iron. Jimmy and Papa stopped by the door, and Jimmy pushed Papa to it. "Now, I want you to answer one question. If you answer correctly, you shall be free. If wrong...", Jimmy cracked open the door a nudge so that Papa could see inside. But, Papa could not see a thing...but he could hear crying and moaning inside. And it was dark. Pitch black. He slowly turned to face Jimmy. "What's that dang question?", he asked. Jimmy smiled evily. "Its simple...". He frowned. "What is the sentence of life?", he said mistily. Papa Acachalla stood there, thinking.  ...Sentence...What words are life?, He thought. Hmm...could it be "Live or let die'? No, of course not. 'Live and let live?', maybe...Wait a second. Maybe not a WORD sentence...Maybe a CRIME sentence...Something people are given for crimes....Death? No, not many people get that...Prision? Everyone gets that...I think its pri-No, it can't be...Wait...PAIN! It's gotta be pain!, He thought. He looked at the very patient Jimmy. "I choose, for my answer, 'Pain'." Papa said triumphantly. Jimmy tilted his head. Then laughed. "You couldn't be more wrong! HAHAHAHAHA!", He laughed...as Papa was pushed into the dark room.