Evening Banquet

When I open my eyes, I find myself laying in bed. I shot up and groan as my body protest against me. Where am I? Where are the children? What about Dal Jung-woo and Mister Dark and Sexy? Did that bastard died by any chance? Did I not make it? So many questions, but no one to answer them.

I get off the bed and wander around. Everything was white, gold, and pristine. There were many water fountains, beautiful green grass, and animals roaming the place. Statues of angels, humans, and butt-naked babies can be found everywhere. Did I die and go to heaven? With those gods?

"Hahaha no. You're very much alive." A serene and angelic voice, almost non-human spoke behind me. I put up my arms and face the person behind me.

"You don't need to be scared. This is a different dimension that only Baal and I know of. You are safe." She says. Her glowing blonde hair, light blue eyes, white cream skin with a white dress, and wings scream angel. A name pops up in my mind.

"You're the Archangel, Ariel" I stated. She did not agree or denied it. She just simply walks next to me.

"We don't have much time left. The event is about to start. Don't worry. It's supposed to give you a break from the first scenario." She leads the way outside to a garden full of flowers blooming.

"So why am I here?" I ask the angel, "Why are you two helping me? What are the gods' and demons' deals anyway?!" I fire question after question, but she doesn't say a word. Ariel didn't stop until we walk into a gazebo where food and refreshments sat.

"Sit." She offers and I did.

"Eat, drink, and listen." She says, pouring me a cup of tea, "Baal and I have been with you for a long time. You just don't remember anything for the last 5 times we've been together." I choked on my tea.

"It wasn't until the 5th time, did you start your diary. You began to write all the important things you've learned during the last 5 lives, when your fifth life ended, you were able to send this diary to the day it all happened." So that was what that sudden text message I got.

"Do you know how far I got? Did I find my sister?" I ask.

"That's for you to figure out. I cannot tell the future, Marianne. I'm only an angel. I can only give you the power to carryout your plans, whatever they might be." She hands me a macaroon.

"So now what?" I wonder, "Do I just keep doing what I've been doing?" I take a bite of the dessert and moan.

"Just go be you. Whatever you decide, you will figure it out. Baal and I will always be with you." She gets up and brushes my hair all of a sudden.

"Come, let's get you dressed up." She grins. We went back to the room I was sleeping in. Ariel opens a small closet. I nearly dropped my jaws on the floor.

Looks may be deceiving, but the small closet held hundreds of dressed and outfits. The angel sticks her arm in and pulls a black backless dress that could seduce any male.

"Woah! Hold up don't you thinks that's too revealing---"

"Shush. Just wear it and be on your merry way. I'll be watching. If you need someone to talk to, just pray." She flicks her wrist and a portal opens up. I began to panic. I still had so many things to ask.

"Did I at least reach the gods and demons?" I scream at her. The angel just smiles and wave.

It felt like an eternity, but before I knew it, I was standing in front of a giant mansion in the middle of no where but sky. I look at myself and find a revealing dress on me, a black mask in hand and even heels. The t-shirt and shorts I had was long gone.

In the entrance there was a sign: WELCOME TO THE EVENING BANQUET!

"I hope we don't have to kill each other." I grumble, walking up the stairs.

There were so many people dressed in their finest clothes. I sigh in relief, happy that I wasn't the only had wearing some kind of formal wear.

[CONGRATULATIONS! You have entered a special event: EVENING BANQUET]

With the mask on my face, I walked around the grand ballroom. The chandeliers sparkle with lights, and giant stone columns formed a circle where people dance on marble floors. It was so fancy with red, black, gold and white color scheme. On the dad left side of the spacious room are rows of food and snacks, that I was dying to walk over to.

Everyone stare at me, mainly because I was the only one with a masked on. Musicians were sitted at the front of the room, playing an upbeat jazz tune.

"Champagne?" A waiter asks, hovering a platter full of champagne glasses on it.

"Ummm wine?" I sheepishly ask. The waiter nods and hands me the glass of champagne, "Your wine, miss." I was about to correct him, when the clear, bubbly drink suddenly turns a dark, purple-red. He looks at me expectantly, so I take a sip.

" ! ! ! " The familiar dark, bitter yet tart flavor of wine hits my mouth and my body hums.

"Thank you---" The waiter disappeared.

Now that I had a wine on hand, O walk over to the snack section, grab a couple of chocolate chip cookies and sit in the corner to open my diary.

_____________________

Dear Marianne,

The [Evening Banquet]: Congratulatory event, where players can take a break from the first scenario... which is stupid. They should just provide a bed and meal if they want us to prepare for the next scenario.

However, Meu will host a musical dance game. It is similar to musical chairs, but with the opposite gender. When the music stops, we dance with someone new every time the music stops. Can not dance with someone they've danced before. I need to win this game to get the rewards and increase my chances of survival.

Advice to self, memorize the ones you've danced and avoid them.

_____________________

I finished reading the advice my future self had given and my last cookie when a shadow looms over my crouched self. His platinum blonde hair and bright green eyes almost made me blind. I put my hand to shield my eyes and took a double take.  With sharp jaws, a high nose, thin lips, and a killer smile, I'm pretty sure he made a lot of girls cry. The stranger was not only good-looking, but you could tell he was built under his navy blue suit and a pale blue sword on his side.

The only thing I didn't like about this man was the fact that he brought his fan club to where I was hiding. Girl of various looks and charms swarm the man. There were too many girls, and that one girl knocked the last cookie I had on my hand. I calmly stood up and looked at the man.

"Hey!" I call out loudly, but he was too busy ignoring the girls that tried to get his attention. Seeing as this was a futile attempt, I tried to get out of the area. However, a girl and I trip, making us both fall on the floor.

" ! ! ! " The girl glares at me, "Watch where you're going bitch!"

" . . . "

"What a bunch of attention seekers." His husky french accent evident as he pares a glance our way, "How boring."

I definitely felt a nerve pop inside me. I stand back up and dust the dirt off my dress. I lock eyes with him as he takes a sip of his wine. I'm glad I have a mask on, "What's the use of being good-looking if your personality is ugly?"

He spits his wine on a poor girl in front of him.