The Show Must Go On

The Show Must Go On Episode #5

Episode #5

“Tonight on Fade to Black. Zane Monroe will be crowned season champion. In order to do this, he has to face our last champion. Will he continue on or will his historical record-breaking run finally run out of time and become dry? Tonight you will find out. Make that popcorn, grab your drinks, and buckle up for the best ride of the summer. Next on Fade to Black.”

A cheering audience welcomes the host. “Thank you studio audience and those watching at home. Never have we had a more popular Creeper. Zane has set records for vote tallies.

In the last episode, he chose to become a champion. Now we will see if he has what it takes to beat our current champion.” The audience cheered madly. “Please welcome our current season winner. Zane Monroe.” Zane walked out to thunderous applause. Waving, he sat down in his chair. Zane noticed how soft the cushion was. He could feel the cushion deflate.

The cheers died down. The lights dimmed down. On the stage, a bright light blinded the audience. The light slowly spiraled to show the champion of champions. The scars on his skin looked like a canyon of pain.

"Please welcome our current champion. Detective Burtman.” A rousing round of boos came from the audience. The host smiled as Burtman sat down. “Lot of hate going on in here.” Replied Burtman. “Well, it's time. Zane, in order to become champion, all you have to do is beat Detective Burtman. To name our champion, we are going to play Stress. For those at home who don't remember the rules, it's easy. We hook these two up to polygraph machines. The first one to lie is the first to die. Easy as pie.”

Both contestants were strapped in. “Now here's the fun part. Each contestant will ask a question. The answer will be fact-checked, then if the sensors show any change to the vitals, we find the liar. Let's set baseline vitals.”

Over the next thirty minutes, a baseline was established. The lights made Zane sweat. Burtman was cool. He never looked more confident. A little more confident than he should be.

The host came in between them. "To see who asks the first and possibly last question is going to be decided by fate. I will flip a coin. Whoever calls the flip asks. Do you understand?" The host asked both contestants. They both nodded. "Ready? Set? Go?" Zane flashed his smile. "Tails." Detective Burtman called. "On its side."

The coin flipped over and over. Zane flashed his smile. The coin flew high, each flip deciding the outcome. As it hit the ground, it flipped and landed on its side. Burtman laughed. "Round one is to me." Zane laughed. "Enjoy it while it lasts," Zane replied.

The detective smiled. He looked at Zane peering straight into his soul. Zane put on a strong, confident face. Burtman, at that moment, had Zane.

"Detective Burtman asks one question, then Zane will follow. Unfortunately, everyone knows Burman's past. A one-time Creeper hunter turned Creeper. Killing Innocents." Burtman smiled. This was his game. He knew it. Like a snake that was camouflaged by its surroundings. "I think I will pass this turn." The game was on.

Zane smiled. Feeling at ease, he asked a question. “What did it feel like on your first kill?' Burtman smiled. “It was like having s*x. It felt good to start and finish without having to worry about my partner.” Zane laughed.

“Tell me, Zane,” Said Burtman. “Was it hard to watch your family die?” Zane smiled. “No. It was easy.” His vitals slipped. The audience gasped. “See, here's the thing. I know you're nothing but a coward and a liar. You killed one person.”

Zane frowned, “No, I killed everyone.” Burtman smiled. “b***h, please. I have a story for you. A man on Thanksgiving breaks into your house. He kills your family in front of you. You are frozen in fear like a damn deer in the headlights. After blood splatters the walls, you finally wake the f**k up and fight. You kill him before he kills you and all; take the credit for what that intruder did.”

Zane started sweating. “You... you're lying.” Burtman laughed. "I am the champion for a reason." Zane was rattled. "You're a paper champ if anything at all." Zane spat his vile insults.

“You stupid, sorry son of a bitch." Burtman spat in Zane's face. "There is a reason that those who are older than you are better than you. We are smarter. We know shortcuts..." Zane laughed. "That explains why you are a paper champion."

The crowd grew impatient. There was a buzz. The muttering became a buzz. Burtman stood up, the sensors pulling off his temple. Zane stood up and his sensors fell off.

As foam, spit formed in the corners of his mouth. Burtmasn spat in vicious anger. "The man that broke into your house. The man, the Creeper that did the dirty work you are taking credit for was my son. I dropped him off. I saw you leave with blood on your clothes. I walked in and saw the c*****e. I staked out your house. After the police took you away, I found his body in your crawl space.”

The crowd booed. The host looked shocked. "Ladies and gentlemen, this has never happened. An innocent person has tricked us. He wanted to be a Creeper so badly that he lied to us. What is his punishment?” The crowd chanted. “Death. Death. Death.” Burtman got up. “I think my job is done.” Lighting a cigarette, walking off stage. Zane sat there. “You make me sick. You horrible f**k. You glorify murder and death. There are monsters out there. You are the epitome... a blade came down from the ceiling. Cutting Zane in half.

The audience chanted, “You deserve it. You deserve it.” As Burtman walked on stage chanting, “You still have it. You still have it.” Burtman smiled. “Have it? Never lost it.” The host walked over. “That brings this season of Fade to Black to an end. Tune into next season as we have an all-new cast of Creepers trying to win it all.