Chapter 50: Pasta
The eerie silence that followed the Jesters' introductions was shattered by the sudden sound of drums. The rhythm was deep, rhythmic, like a heartbeat, sending chills down their spines. It was a loud, thunderous sound that echoed in their chests. And then, as if on cue, the clowns moved.
The Jester with long, twisted legs broke the stillness first. His arms stretched as he screeched with excitement, his voice almost too high-pitched to comprehend.
His legs jerked unnaturally, the bones cracking with a disturbing sound. With a mad, gleaming grin, he launched himself onto the walls, his legs bending in impossible angles.
[ Catch me, catch me! ]
he yelled, his body twirling as he sprinted around the room at an impossible speed. His movements were erratic, almost impossible to track. Dune's eyes followed his every twitch.
Nely's eyes narrowed as she watched him, her fingers twitching, but before she could react, the next clown made his move.
The Jester with a single, enormous eye disappeared. One moment he was there, the next he was gone, vanishing into thin air with an unsettling silence. Not a trace. Not even a shadow.
The Jester without a mouth was slow to move, but his body shifted toward them. His figure was silent, foreboding, as though each step was calculated in deliberate, ominous intent.
And then, the Jester with the wide, toothy grin landed directly in front of Nely.
His expression was almost sickeningly joyous, his eyes wide with excitement as he tilted his head. [ What a lovely game it will be, ] he said, his voice dripping with an unnerving enthusiasm. [ Let's have some fun, shall we? ]
Dune's heart raced as he turned to face the Long-legged Jester. There was no time for hesitation. He exploded forward with Neba Steps, creating platforms beneath his feet in quick succession, his speed increasing with every step, but the Jester was fast, too fast.