Ten Little Scoundrels: COMPLETE EDITION!

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"Ten Little Scoundrels arrived to dine,
One's luck flopped and then there were nine."

Nine Little Scoundrels, they'd taken the bait.
One found the future, and then there were eight.

Eight little Scoundrels, victim to a leaven,
One broke the scale, and then there were seven.

Seven Little Scoundrels, three out of the mix,
One got let out, and then there were six.

Six Little Scoundrels, trying to survive,
One was free, and then there were five.

Five Little Scoundrels, one settled their score,
One got too hot, and then there were four.

Four Little Scoundrels, All wanted to be free,
One's past caught up to them, and then there were three.

Three Little Scoundrels, at their last clue,
One went to hide, and then there were two.

Two Little Scoundrels. the Alterationist had his fun,
He was defeated.

And then there was one."

********************************

It was a dark and stormy night, quiet all around. Our story takes place at the Smith Manor. At Five O' Clock guests began to arrive. Edward, Smith's butler opened  the door.

"Can I help you? Why have you come here?" Edward asked in an annoyed tone.

"We were invited, the dinner invite said this was the address." replied Liz, a young lass with leadership skills.

"She dragged me here." said Bobby, pointing to his wife Jessica. Their marriage had been on the rocks, and Jessica hoped this social interaction could help save it.

"I-I had an invite." Scott said, looking away from Edward before entering.

"Me and my friend Sophie received it, we assumed it was from a friend of ours, but we'd never thought someone we knew would live in a manor..." Josh, a college student replied.

"Yeah..." Sophie, another college student added in ponder, entering the manor with Josh.

"My retirement just started, it's been long, but I'm finally able to move forward and relax! This invite helped me kick it off!" Barry said, a recently retired, energetic man.

Then someone entered the mansion without a word. His name was Darren. He was quiet and a lone wolf.

"Good, I love nothing more than unexpected company." Edward mumbled under his breath as he closed the door once all the guests had entered.

"Who the hell are you? And why are you in my diner?" Smith walked out, disgust in his voice.

"You invited us." Liz said, sliding her invite over to him as he took a seat with the rest.

"This isn't my handwriting, let alone charity I would partake in!" Smith scoffed.

"Why is there an extra seat?" Scott asked nervously.

"The only other person in here is Edward, and the butler doesn't eat with the guests." Smith said annoyed.

"But if you didn't bring us here, then maybe the one who did wanted Edward to join us?" Josh added.

"Edward! Take a seat until we figure this out!" Smith demanded while Edward obeyed.

"Do you have to treat him like that? As someone who worked for over 40 years people can hold grudges with people like you." Barry scolded Smith.

"Then don't become a private butler!" Smith defended himself angrily.

Sophie took a sip of her water.

"But wait, who set the table if you two, who live here, didn't send the invites?" Liz asks the room.

"The Ghost of Christmas Past, hell if I know!' Smith replied with rage.

"Calm down, we just need to figure this out." Josh tried to calm Smith down.

"Don't tell me to calm down! You're trespassing in my house! So don't start commanding me in my manor!" Smith replied bitterly.  

"L-let's just take a deep breath..." Scott mumbled quietly, trying to act like a leader, failing as he could barely be heard past Smith's rage.

Josh looked over at Sophie, seeing her choking.

"Sophie? You alright?" Josh asked nervously, rushing to her side.

Sophie began to attack her chest, trying to get her lungs working again.

Josh ran behind her and got her out of her chair, and began giving her the Heimlich. It was failing, and what Josh didn't notice was Sophie's skin changing, becoming sticky green scales. Sophie's lungs were also gone.

"W-what's on her neck?" Barry asked frightened. Gills were starting to form on her neck, Sophie now could only breathe in water. Her arms and hands turned into mere fins, slipping out from Josh's neck.

"What's happening to her!?" Josh angrily looks over to Smith, who has a shocked expression on his face. Josh looks back as Sophie falls onto the ground. Her legs fused together to become a tail fin. Her fins become much smaller, as her neck retreats into her. Sophie's head began to push out as her hair left her. Her eyes move to each side and become beady, Sophie now a human sized fish.

Everyone looks in horror, unmoving, including Sophie who doesn't know how to act as a fish. Sophie begins to flop around as her brain becomes small. She couldn't remember her old identity, but her new short attention span wouldn't help her. Still in her clothes, were flailing gets slower and slower, running out of air.

"Stop standing there and help me!" Josh calls out, as he, Liz, and Barry help the flopping fish out of the clothes.

"Moneybags! Where is your fountain!?" Josh frantically called out to Smith, who just turns away crossing his arms.

"She'll die if you don't tell us! What's wrong with you?!" Josh said through tears.

"There's a fountain in the back, take her there quickly!" Edward informs them and gives a disgusted look at Smith.

The three carry the new fish towards the fountain. Sophie's slimy body and flailing made them drop her. She flops around for a bit, before stopping, breathing slowly.

"Don't stand there, get her to water!" Josh calls, Barry and Liz snapping out of their shock and back into worry. They finally arrive at the fountain, and plop Sophie in. After a few moment, Sophie begins swimming around, and Josh lets out a sigh of relief along with Barry and Liz.

The trio return to the table. Barry and Liz take a seat while Josh stays standing.

"What the hell was that? What did you do you madman!?" Josh sshouted fiercely to Smith.

"I had nothing to do with your friend. I didn't want a human sized fish in this manor." Smith replied.

"And yet you'd have let her die from bitterness? Whatever it is your behind it!" Josh argued.

"Guys! Hold up! What's this?" Darren finally spoke out, holding a paper.

"What's it say?" Liz asked.

"Some kind note..." Darren said. "There is an alterationist out and loose. You came in one way, and leave another."

"What does it mean?" Edward asked.

"I think it means we'll be joining fish girl." Barry sighed.

"Her name is Sophie." Josh said sternly.

"Sorry, we never really introduced ourselves." Barry apologized.

"It's fine. Now, we need to find this alterationist fellow and end him!" Josh said vigorously.

"It had to have been one of us, and sorry, but I'm getting out of here!" Scott said, running off.

"That boy is smart! " Darren called out, going into a different direction. Soon there was chaos, and everyone went out their own ways. However their fates were sealed, all the exits locked, leaving the 9 remaining scoundrels left inside.

**********

One's Luck Flopped.

And Then There Were Nine.

**********

All the exits were locked, the nine; Smith, Edward, Jessica, Bobby, Scott, Liz, Darren, Barry, and Josh trapped with a madman changing them. All they knew was one of the nine of them were out to transform them all, and had turned Josh's friend Sophie into a fish, who know swam in the fountain of the manor. All nine had split up in an attempt to escape, but had only sealed their fates.

Scott began to wander the halls of the manor, shaking and nervously watching every corner. He walked as quietly as possible, even leaving his shoes behind. As he approached a corner, he had hit someone else. Scott jumped and screamed in fear, falling to the ground.

"Get up kiddo, you're fine." Liz said holding out her hand to help Scott up.

"S-sorry, this alterationist business has be a bit jumpy..." Scott said, taking her hand and getting up.

"We're all a bit shaken, but I think it might help if we stay together." Liz recommended.

"For now, but I can't trust you. Not until this is all over. I'll only stay by your side for now..." Scott found himself fumbling words.

"Hey! I'm only helping you because you looked terrified. Sorry for trying to help." Liz replied annoyed.

"S-sorry! It's just I'm shaken up about the whole thing; the one time I'm not late to the party it's one I should have skipped out on!"

"Can't say I blame you kid, I don't think this is going well for anyone, especially Josh..." Liz found sympathy in her voice. "But let's stick together and find this 'alterastionist' as soon as we can!"  

"Right, I'll stick by your side. There be a way out through the basement perhaps?" Scott suggested.

"What? We can't leave without finding this guy! He could be transforming more people!" Liz replied sternly.

"And what if you're tricking me? What if your the alterationist!" Scott called out pointing his finger at her.

"Then why wouldn't I have changed you by now?" Liz rebutted annoyed.

"Maybe you're trying to make me trust you! Then strike when you can! Sorry, I'm out of here!" Scott said as he ran off.

"Idiot." Liz sighed under her breath as she continued through the halls.


*****
Bobby and Jessica were both together, standing around after attempting to break out through the back door past the dinner. Both scared, they took that to their marriage and relationship status.

"I told you this was a horrible idea! You just have to control everything don't you?" Bobby yelled at his wife Jessica.

"Like I knew this would happen! You're the one who won't put the effort to fix the marriage!"

"If we don't get out of this mess we won't be in a marriage! We'll be rats or something!" Bobby said turning away from his wife.

"You know as well as I do that if we don't stick together, than there's no hope for either of us. If we separate then this alterationist fellow will have us on a silver platter!" Jessica defended.

"There you go again! Acting like you know everything! I'm sick of it! You're adding extra weight onto my shoulders! I have enough stress because of this situation as it is! You're nagging isn't helping!" Bobby said starting to walk away from Jessica.

"Where are you going?" Jessica yelled to Bobby.

"Away from you. I'd rather be turned a rhino or what have you than be with you right now!" Bobby said angrily as he left the room.

"Fine! I'll go find someone who cares about making it out of here!" Jessica said turning the other way and going into the library.

*****

Edward and Smith and adventured to the front doors. They believed it would be the simplest way of escaping. Edward attempted to open the door, but it was locked shut. He tried to pull it open with all his might to no avail, but he kept going.

"First these strangers show up to my house, from invites not of my writing! Then that lass turns into a giant fish! What is going on Edward! is this your doing?" Smith said furiously as Edward tried to open the door with all his weight.

"Why on Earth would I do that? I hate when guests are around, especially uninvited! I don't even know these people! Let alone want a nice giant fish to take care of!" Edward defend as he let his grip off the door, taking a rest.

"Why have you stopped? Do you wish to get transformed to!?' Smith yelled.

Edward looked at Smith with disgust. "Are you saying that you are the alterationist?" he asked sternly staring down Smith.

"Are you daft? Of course not! I don't want pets to wander the halls. I don't want the alterationst to alter us you imbecile!" Smith scoffed. "I should fire you for that assumption!"

"Please do, because I'd love to be able to actually enjoy my life should I make it out of this. Although I wouldn't mind seeing you in the same boat as fish girl." Edward said maliciously to Smith.

"How dare you!" Smith scoffed. "I brought you up when no one else would! Leave my sight this instance!"

"It will be my pleasure. I hope to see you flopping around on the ground next!" Edward said leaving Smith alone.

"Don't come crawling back once this is over! And if you're the alterationist I'll be sure to end you!" Smith yelled out to him, but Edward was already long gone.

*****

Josh and Barry were both walking around together. Barry, being someone who had lost someone he'd love, figured to would be best to console Josh after losing Sophie. The two had went to the library.

"There's got to be something around here about transformation." Josh said as he scavenged through books.

"Yeah, I'll help you bud." Barry said, sympathy in his voice, looking through books. "I was looking forward to retirement, but I don't want to be getting away from everything like this..."

"We can talk just keep looking." Josh said. "Where did you work anyways?" Josh asked a bit curios, but panic still in his voice.

"A few places. The longest was a a toy company. Used to make beanie babies. Maybe if we make it out I can give one to you." he says with a smile.

"Thanks, but I'm good. A little weary considering what's going on."

"Fair enough. Remember you don't want to hold grudges, it'll lead you no where."

"I think I have the right to hold a grudge after what happened with Soph-" Josh stopped. "We're not alone." Josh whispered.

"Is it the alterationist?" Barry whispered.

"How would I know? Keep it down, don't want them to hear us." Josh said.

"You know I've always been here right? Just didn't feel a need to chime in." Darren spoke up.

"And that was a good idea?" Josh said skeptically.

"Well, the library would be the best way of learning what's going on here. From what happened with Smith back there, I can only assume he is the alterationist. His butler didn't know we were even coming." There has to be a book in here somewhere on it." Darren explained.

"Fair play. Find anything?" Josh opened up.

"Perhaps, there's this strange book I found right now, "Ten Little Scoundrels." There's ten of us. Whether or not we're scoundrels I can't say, but it adds up." Darren said examining the book.

"Have you read it at all?" Barry chimed in.

"No, net yet, though now is better than never." Darren said, opening the book. Suddenly a huge white light glowed out from the book, shining on Darren's face.

"Get back!" Barry said, grabbing Josh's arm as the two gained reasonable distance from Darren and the book.

Darren's body began to morph. He dropped the book down, it vanished as it hit the floor. Darren's body became circular, as a brim formed around his waist and grew up, his body turning into black felt. His arms and legs slowly began retreating into the new fabric that was his body, slowly getting closer and closer to the ground. Soon, his limbs had melted away into his black felt, becoming a hat with a head sticking out at the top. Darren tried to scream out, unable to as his head began shrink into the hat, his voice box gone. He only had a look of horror as the rest of his head melts into the hat, leaving just that behind; a black top hat. The light dimmed down and Darren, now an immobile hat sat there.

"He's a hat. A hat. He's not even alive anymore!" Josh panicked.

Barry began to walk up to the hat. He picked it up and examined it. The inside of it was hollow, everything about Darren was pure hat. "It's an expensive top hat too." Barry let out monotonously. Barry put the hat down on a nearby table as Josh walked over.

"Wait, what's this?" Josh said, noticing a small opening on Darren's brim. He put a finger in it, and it began to open slowly. "Whoa!" Josh let out, pulling his finger away quickly and stepping back.

"Ten Little Scoundrels." A voice identical to Darren's came from the hat.

"That was the name of the poem! Is it going to read it?" Barry said curious.

Darren began to recite a poem.

"Ten Little Scoundrels arrived to dine,
One's luck flopped and then there were nine.

Nine Little Scoundrels, they'd taken the bait.
One found the future, and then there were eight.

Eight little Scoundrels, victim to a leaven,
One broke the scale, and then there were seven.

Seven Little Scoundrels, three out of the mix,
One got let out, and then there were six.

Six Little Scoundrels, trying to survive,
One was free, and then there were five.

Five Little Scoundrels, one settled their score,
One got too hot, and then there were four.

Four Little Scoundrels, All wanted to be free,
One's past caught up to them, and then there were three.

Three Little Scoundrels, at their last clue,
One went to hide, and then there were two.

Two Little Scoundrels. the Alterationist had his fun,
He was defeated.

And then there was one." Darren finished reading, as the brim shut, an immobile hat yet again.

"What does it mean?" Josh said. "Are...are we the scoundrels?" he stuttered.

"Wait...I might be onto something..." Barry pondered aloud.

"What is it?" Josh said intrigued.

"Well, think about it. 'One's luck flopped,' like a fish. There were ten of us, and Sophie was the first to be transformed, quite unlucky no?"

"So you're saying everything is planned? He knew that she would turn first?" Josh replied with skepticism.

"Yeah. And 'found the future?' Darren found out the hints of what will happen to the rest of us!"

"But...that means that there is only one who will escape..." Josh said, looking skeptically at Barry, backing away.

"Oh come on! You don't really think I'm the alterationist do you?" Barry said shaking his head.

"You deciphered that code way too fast. And you were way to happy with helping me find books, one of which turned Darren into a talking hat."

"I didn't know the books would do that! They were planted here because the alterationist had to have known we'd been here." Barry defended himself. "And my retirement plan doesn't involve ending the normal lives of others."

"Whether or not that's true or not, if that poem is right, I'm going to be the 'And then there was one!'" Joshua said, running away from the library.

"Thinks he'll be able to soar free. Unbelievable." Barry sighed shaking his head. He went over to the hat, rubbing the top.

"I'm so sorry Darren. If I knew this would have happened, I'd have taken the fall. Rest well." Barry said, leaving the hat behind as he left the library in the opposite direction as Josh.

**********

One Found The Future.

And Then There Were Eight.

**********

"I can't believe the nerve of some people. Me? The alterationist? What a joke!" Smith scoffed to himself as he tried to reach a hidden exit of the manor underneath his bed should a break in occur. He walked through the halls up to his room. While doing so, Josh ran straight into him, both falling on top of each other. Josh got up rather quickly, the older Smith having more trouble.

"S-sorry about that." Josh said holding a hand out to help Smith.

"I don't need your help you fiend!" Smith said trying to get up.

"It's just me and Barry saw Darren transform into a hat..." Josh sighed.

"I don't know those names nor care to find out their identities. I just want to get out of here now!"

"Wait a minute...you're that jerk from the dinner! Glad I knocked you over." Josh said bitterly.

"You scoundrel! What happened to your friend was not my doing!"

"Scoundrel? That's what the poem called us! Whatever you're doing it ends now. We've already lost two people. Maybe more!"

"What poem are you talking about? Have you gone daft!" Smith replied offended.

"The one you put into the book to transform Darren!" Josh answered. "The charade is up!"

"Wait...A.another p-person's been transformed?" a freighted Scott overheard as he entered the same hall.

"Oh good. Another imbecile!" Smith said exasperated.

"Yeah. Darren, the quiet guy. He became hat! He read this poem that "foretold" what will happen to us with a poem." Josh explained.

"What was it?!" Scott yelled dreadfully.

"The next one was 'One Broke the scale, and then there were seven. Sophie and now Darren are already gone, so there's eight now."

"What does it mean!?" Scott said.

"I don't know, but I feel like Smith here might..." Josh said as he turned to Smith, only he was gone, as he ran off into a another section of the house.

"Where did he go?" Scott questioned.

"Ran off. He's hiding something. He's got to be!" Josh said.

"Where is Darren? I have to find out the rest of that poem! I'm going to be one step ahead of it!" Scott said.

"It-He's in the library. The hat on the desk, assuming Barry didn't move it. There's a hole you have to put your finger in and he'll read it." Josh said pointing to the direction of the library.

"Thanks! If we both make it out of this I owe you!"

"Not a problem. Watch your back, I'm going to go try and find some food, hopefully it won't transform me." Josh said nervously.

"Good luck! I'm going to make sure I make it out!" Scott said as he ran off to the library.

*****

Liz wondered into the library herself, looking for some kind of hidden passage out of the manor. When she entered, so saw Barry frantically looking through books.

"You alright there bud?" Liz asked Barry.

"I'm fine. But that poor Darren. It's my fault. I should have opened it." Barry said with guilt in his voice.

"What are you talking about?" Liz asked skeptically.

"You see that book on the ground?"

"Yeah?" Liz wondered where he was going.

"It made Darren into the hat next to it." he said pointing to it.

"What!?" Liz yelled. "Then why are you looking through books!? You could be transformed too!" she warned.

"I just want to bring Darren back, I feel so responsible..."

"Hey. Look at me. It's not your fault. You didn't know the book would transform him." she paused. "Right?"

"N-no. But I there's got to be a way to reverse it in these books somewhere!" Barry said as he went back to the shelves.

"Listen. Darren wouldn't want to see someone else transformed because you were trying to save him! It's not your fault your here!"

"Maybe you're right..." Barry sighed.

"You shouldn't stay in here. Nor look at Darren anymore. It'll only bring the memories back. Just block it from your memory. We can figure something out once we get out alright?"

"Alright." Barry sighed.

*****

Bobby went through the halls, finding his way into a liquor room. "That's just what I need!" he says happily as he grabs a bottle of whiskey and takes a small swig from it. He wanted to just get away from everything. Jessica, the alterationist, the manor, just lost in his booze. The door began to open. "Jessica stay away from me!" he yelled furiously.

"It's not you wife but you should calm down with her." Edward said entering and closing the door. "I just need a drink right now." he sighed.

"There's plenty! May as well stay until the party is over and that alterationist is done having his jollies." he said happily. "Always did like a drinking man."

"Not normally am, but after what happened with Mast-Smith, I need one."

"Try a bit of this." Bobby said tossing the whiskey bottle over Edward, who caught it and took a swig. "That's strong."

"Pretty good whiskey! Makes any girl look hot. Need that for Jessica." he laughs.

"What happened with you two? From what I can tell you hate each other." Edward dwells on the thought.

"She wants to control me, I want to be free. Neither of us can afford a divorce though. She looks so innocent, but she is still feisty."

"I feel like you give her a bit of a hard time. That'll come back to bite you one day!" Edward laughs.

"How so?" Bobby asked sternly, no longer laughing.

"Well uh, treating your wife the way you do reaps consequences..."

"Are you saying your going to transform me? You're the alterationist aren't you!" Bobby said getting up.

"N-no! I was just trying to scare you into being nicer to your wife..." Edward begins to back up.

"I don't think so." Bobby said, grabbing a bottle and breaking it, holding it like a weapon.

"You seem to be a bit heated...Let's just take a moment to breath." Edward chuckles nervously. However, Bobby doesn't seem to be backing down, slowly getting closer, with Edward shaking and taking steps back.

*****

Jessica had arrived back to the very dinner where Sophie had transformed. She looked around, wondering what exactly changed her. "Maybe I'll find something to make Bobby go back to normal." she joked sadly. Jessica looked around the table, noticing all the uneaten food that was set out. She felt her stomach growl. "A peek won't hurt." she giggled as she lifted the trays. There was turkey, potatoes, ham, steak, just a plethora of delicious food. Jessica felt her mouth watering. "Just a little wouldn't hurt." she said as she tore off the legs of the turkey. She began to eat it happily, going down to the bone. She sat down, her stomach growling. "That did not sit well." she said to herself. In fact, her whole body felt like it was getting heavier.

And it was. Jessica's body was gaining more mass as she got heavier. Her skin became much more rough, as it took on a grey color. Jessica's legs and arms became much more cylindrical and larger in width, but shorter in length. Her hands and feet became much more circular as her nails became large and black. Jessica's head began to reshape. Her ears became more circular as they moved to the top of her head. Her jaw became much larger, being able to open at almost 180 degrees. Jessica's face pushed out into an impressive snout as her nose became a mere two slits. Her eyes moved to each side of it. A small tail erupted from her rear. The weight of her new much larger body was too much for her chair, and it collapsed. She fell forward as her skeleton changed, now forced to walk on all fours. Jessica had fallen onto the table, causing it to break in half, causing a lot of noise. Luckily, thanks to her much tougher and durable body, she was fine. Jessica's eyes were wide and filled with panic. She found herself unable to talk, only able to make growls. Soon, her panic goes away. She finds her animal instincts starting to guide her. Jessica moves away from the table and when she does, her eyes become calm, and her animal instincts had taken over her, leaving Jessica as a total hippo in mind and body. Not even knowing she was human. She saw the food on the table and began to eat it furiously.  

"Oh my God!" Josh yelled as he came in for the last of the transformation.

"Jessica is a hippo! She's turned into a hippo!" he said running through the halls.

**********

One Broke The Scale.

And Then There Were Seven

**********

"How you holding up?" Liz asked Barry, who she had stayed with to help him cope with what happened with Darren.

"A bit better. Getting out of the library helped for sure." he let out with a small smile.

"Glad to hear. There's got to be an exit somewhere in here. You got to get out of this mansion in general. You need to enjoy the rest of your life! You've made it so far, you deserve to be free from responsibilities!" Liz said smiling.

"Thanks. Will you leave too if we find a way out?" Barry pondered to Liz.

"I don't really know. This alterationist fellow needs to be stopped. But I have family and they wouldn't like it if I show up as a cow or something." she chuckled nervously.

"I'm not losing anyone else. As long as you're by my side, I'll ensure your safety you hear?" Barry said sternly to her.

"Thanks." she smiled.

As the two walked casually but with intent, Smith came running through the hall, stopping right in front of the two.

"Out of my way! I must escape!" Smith commanded the two.

"We are trying to get out as well, why not stick together? It'll make it safer for all of us." Liz recommended.

"So you can transform me? How do I know you won't transform me you little rascals?" Smith scoffed.

"Well you don't, and Barry here needs to get out of here as well. Think of my 'why not' as a nicer way of saying 'we are coming with you to escape.' alright?" Liz said smugly.

Smith ignored this and tried to pass the two, unable to. He sighed. "I assume you aren't moving until I agree?"

"Yup." Liz chimed in, crossing her arms in victory.

"If I must." he sighed. "There's a secret passage in my bedroom underneath my bed, should someone break in I can escape easily. The escape there might not be blocked off." Smith explained.

"Lead the way Smith." Liz smirked. He brushed past her, purposely hitting her shoulder.

"Come on! Let's get you out of here!" Liz said as Barry and herself followed Smith's lead.

*****

Josh had run around, finally ending his running after seeing Jessica's final transformations into a hippo. He found himself taking a seat on the couch. He took a moment to gather himself.

"Help me!" Josh heard a voice say from another room.

Josh stood up and ran to the voice, still calling out from help. It lead him to a door. He swung it opened quickly, and saw Bobby trying to attack Edward with a broken wine bottle.

"What are you doing!" Josh said, as he rushed up to Bobby, taking it from him rather easily.

"This man is the alterationist! He's going to transform us all!' Bobby said taking a charge to Edward, who dodged him.

"No he isn't! Someone else was already transformed! It couldn't have been him!" Josh said, going up to Bobby to hold him back, until Bobby finally calmed down.

"Well? Who was it?" Bobby said, Edward slowly tip toeing out of the room, unnoticed by Josh or Bobby.

"Your wife."

"R-really? Did she get something that she had coming? Maybe a female dog?" he chuckled.

"Your wife is a hippo now and you have no sympathy?" Josh scoffed.

"No! Of course not! She was so controlling. Her weight on my shoulders was just too much. Now her weight would kill me." he laughed.

"What is wrong with the people in this place? Darren was right, scoundrels indeed."

"What are you talking about scoundrel?" Bobby said angrily.

"Darren turned into a hat. He read a poem called Ten Little Scoundrels, and it seems to foresee what will happen. I want to say your wife was the third, and only one person isn't going to be transformed."

"So then it'll be me! I ain't going anywhere!" he laughed. "And if you're not leaving, I can make you leave just as easily." he said, grabbing another bottle from the shelve.

"Calm down! I'm leaving! Hope you're the next to go. There was a line about hiding in the poem, just hope it's not, it was way to far down the list." Josh scoffed, leaving and locking the room with a chair before Bobby got a chance to lash out on him.

*****

Liz, Barry, and Smith had all arrived to the room with the tunnel.

"Pull out the second to last book on the right, it'll activate." Smith commanded Liz. She sighed as she obeyed. All three could hear gears moving as the bed moved forward on some kind of conveyor belt. Soon, there was a small tunnel that all three could fit. Smith went through, followed by the other two.

"How long is this tunnel?" Barry asked, getting a bit winded.

"We're almost there, stop complaining." Smith replied annoyed.

"Alright, we're here." Smith said, stopping at a dead end.

"What are you talking about? There's a giant wall in the way!" Liz yelled confused.

"We have to dig! So you two get digging!" Smith commanded pointing to the wall.

"What about you? You're just going to sit back?" Barry scoffed.

"Yup. And if you don't you'll be stuck in here." Smith smiles, sitting down against the wall.

"Whatever, c'mon Barry, let's just get out of here." she sighed, as the two got on their knees and begin to dig out dirt.

Smith just gave a cocky smirk as he watched the two do is labor for him. He noticed a bone lying on the ground next to him. A bit bored, he began to hold it, and play around with it.

"Mind helping us for once? We're tired!" Liz yelled out.

"You know what? I could actually go for some digging! It's been all too long." Smith said, surprisingly happily.  

"O-okay?" Barry responded confused, as he and Liz got up and let Smith get to digging.

Smith got onto his hands and knees and began to quickly start digging. As he did, Smith's hands became more circular, as his nails became claws, slowly turning into paws. White fur began to grow out from them, going up his arms. His bone structure began to alter, as his knees turning close to nothingness, and his legs took on near identical properties to his feet and hands, save for different bone structure at his hind legs. Smith's whole lower body, along with his new hind legs grew white fur, Smith now standing on all fours. A tail began to push out from Smith's backside, a blend of grey and white fur. Once it finished, it wagged happily and Smith dug faster. A smile formed on Smith's face as he began panting with his tongue out in excitement. It began larger as his teeth became sharper and more canine. His face grew out into a muzzle, his nose turning black and wet at the tip of it. His mouth and jaw became larger to equal the size of his new muzzle.

Liz and Barry looked at each other, shocked but somewhat happy of what was happening. They crossed their arms pleased and watched Smith's transformation finish. Smith's eyes turned light blue as his eyesight lost color, becoming black and white exclusively. Smith's ears became larger and a bit floppy as grey fur began to grow over them, and around his face. Smith's actual face became covered in white fur, while grey fur covered the rest of his back. His clothes had all ripped off, now looking like a full husky. Smith finished digging, and grabbed a stuffed bird and dropping it in front of Barry and Liz, wagging his tail excitedly.

"Good find boy!" Liz said, petting his head, Smith closed his eyes in glee.

"Shouldn't touch it, for all we know it could be a transformation item!" Liz warned Barry.

"Right, but what do we do with Smith now?" Barry asked.

"Let him be a dog. He absolutely had it coming. He is great at digging though!" Liz smiles petting him around his muzzle, to which Smith responded quite positively to.

"But there was no way out? What do we do?" Barry asked Liz.

"Look for another way out. There's got to be more than one passage. Check the library maybe?" Liz recommended.

"Go ahead without me. I'll take Smith here and around other parts and we'll meet back up here in 20 minutes alright?" Barry said.

"Alright." Liz sighed. "Stay safe and be careful!" Liz said, running off to the library.

"Well Smith, let's go." Barry sighed. Smith happily picked up his new plush toy and walked along side Barry.

**********

One Got Let Out.
And Then There Were Six.

**********

Liz soon arrived in the library, carefully looking around for anyone who could get the upper hand on her. After failing to see anyone, she went at ease. She wandered the library, pulling books in and out of shelves, hoping some kind of passage would open.

"Stop!" Liz heard Scott yelled as he ran up to her.

"What?" Liz said pulling her hands away from the book. She turned to Scott. "Oh, hello again. Aren't you afraid I'll change you?" Liz said crossing her arms.

"S-sorry about earlier. I was on edge, considering a girl had turned into a fish right in front of us." Scott said sheepishly.

"It's fair enough. Can't say I blame you." Liz said bringing her arms to her sides. "But why did you want me to stop?"

"One of the books turned someone into the hat on the table over there!" Scott warned with fear in his voice, pointing to where Darren the hat now was.

"Oh..." Liz said under her breath. "I was trying to find a secret way out, Smith said there was a way out in his room, only lead to a dead end and a stuffed bird."

"So Smith tricked you?" Scott asked.

"Yes and no. He sat back as we began to dig, but well, he started to help and let's say karma hit him, harshly." Liz said cryptically.

"Karma as in, transformed karma?" Scott pondered to her.

"Yeah. He's a husky now. Walking around with Barry. Only thing we found was a stuffed bird." Liz explained.

"Of everyone who's transformed can't say I'm sorry for him."

"Don't think anyone is." Liz chuckled a bit. "What are you doing in here anyway?"

"Josh said that Darren read a poem that hinted at what will happen. I couldn't get Darren to speak, so I'm at a loss. All I know is only one of us is meant to make it out." Scott sighed, clearly scared.

"Well then let's make sure that poem doesn't come true huh? They wouldn't put all the transformation stuff in one room, it'd be separated surely, so let's keep for looking for a secret exit, then you, me, and Barry and can get out of here!" Liz said with a smile, wrapping her arm around Scott.

"A-alright." Scott said. Liz went rather quickly, while Scott went through slowly. For every 5 books Liz pulled, Scott had only done 1.

*****

Edward had gone as far away from Bobby as possible, on the other side of the manor. He made sure to check every corner, to avoid any surprise attacks from Bobby. He walked quietly, stopping around a corner as he heard footsteps approaching him. "Hey!" he said turning the corner, hoping to scare him off. He was surprised to see Josh instead of Bobby.

"Hello." Josh replied sarcastically.

"About earlier, thanks, that was a close one." Edward said scratching the back of his head.

"No problem, that Bobby dude is crazy!" he chuckles a bit.

"Right..." Edward sighs. "Any clues as to the alterationist?" he asks curiously.

"Not really, aside from that poem."

"Poem?" Edward asks.

"Were you out of the room by then? Once Darren turned into a hat, he read a poem out loud, a very vague one but one nevertheless..." Josh explained.

"Did you figure it out?" Edward asked curiously.

"No, the old fella caught a few really right off the bat...almost as if he knew." Josh replied in a blaming tone.

"So you think he is the alterationist?" Edward asked intently.

"He's the best suspect, or maybe he's just good at riddles. Perhaps we could catch him together? End this now?" Josh suggested.

"I suppose." Edward sighed. "You did save my life earlier after all."

"Great, let's get moving." Josh said leading him and Edward down the halls.

*****

"Calm down boy, don't get to excited!" Barry told Smith, who hopped around with excitement. "What's got you so riled up?" Barry asks Smith, kneeling down to pet him. Smith's canine reaction of bliss while he petted him put a smile on Barry's face. He panted happily and Barry got back up. "Why is this mansion so big?" he asked down to Smith, knowing not to expect an answer.

"Hey!" Barry heard a voice call from behind him. Both Barry and Smith turned, to see Edward and Josh at the end.

"Oh...hello lad from the library. How are you holding up?" Barry asked in a somewhat friendly tone.

"Don't worry about me, mind explaining your pet here?" Josh asked angrily, pointing down to the husky. Smith snarled in anger as he did so, dropping the stuffed bird.

"That's Smith. He turned into a husky after playing with a bone. Me and Liz saw that happen." Barry explained.

Edward laughed quite a bit as he looked at the canine that was his former boss. "No I'M your master." Edward said with a smirk.

"Hey! We've bonded quite a bit. Smith's quite likable now. He's a cute little dogie." Barry says ruffling his muzzle.

"I've been his servant for years! It's about time I get payback!" Edward snapped back.

"Well you're going to have to wait, me, Smith, and his toy are out!" Barry said picking up the stuffed bird Smith put down, before winching in pain.

"What are you doing now?" Josh asked in a snarky tone, but fear soon took over as he noticed blue feathers sprout from Barry. Smith watched and wagged his tail, oblivious to the direness of the situation.

Soon, different shades of blue feathers with some streaks of black adorned his entire body. His whole body began to shrink down, Barry's former clothes now covering his transforming body as he was stuck in it. His legs became harder and almost looked like twigs as they became avian. His feet turned into talons as his body became more avian. Barry's arms morphed into a set of functional wings as his backside grew out into blue tail feathers. Barry's nose and mouth fused together and pushed out turning hard and blue, becoming a beak. His eyes moved to both sides of his head as his ears became nothing but a few holes.

Edward and Josh watched the clothes pile intently, as a small blue jay jumped popped out of it, flapping it's wings rapidly, going in every which direction. Unable to use his new body, Barry flew straight into the wall, landing onto the ground unmoving. Smith let out barks of panic and rushed to the new bird, barking in it's face in order to wake it up.

"I-is he?" Josh asked nervously as Barry was as still as a rock.

"I don't know..." Edward sighed as Smith barked at Barry, moving him with his paw every so often. Eventually, this got through, and the blue jay began to move it's feathers a bit. Smith began to pant happily as Barry flew up and went onto his feet. He looked at Smith and flew on top of his head, moving around on it. Smith let out a happy bark which caused Barry to flutter off and come back down on him. Smith barked again and rushed down a hall. Barry took into the air and followed closely behind him.

"But why would he transform himself?" Edward asked confused. "Unless..." he said turning to Josh.

"Hey! I didn't know that plushie would cause a trigger! He's the one who had it!" Josh defended.

"I guess you could be right..." Edward admitted. "Listen, thanks for your help, but I'm going to go solo." Edward scoffed starting to go the other way.

"Fine! If that Bobby comes after you have fun defending him yourself!" Josh yelled back going the opposite direction.

**********

One Was Free
And Then There Were Five

**********

"Transformation, crazy snobs, locked in a manor..." Bobby said out loud to himself, taking another swig of alcohol. "At least I have booze!" he says chuckling, running his hand down his face. "No more bitchy wife either." he chuckles. "This may be one of the best things in a while!"

In the air vents, the flow began to get more sporadic, like something was blocking the air. Something was rubbing against the vents, and it made a distinct noise, one that went right over the head of Bobby.

*****

"I think we might have to call it." Liz says with a heavy sigh.

"What!? We have to keep looking! I like walking on two legs! Being human! I don't-" Scott stopped as Liz slapped him, grabbing his shoulders.

"Listen! Stay calm, I'll get you out, I promise you'll walk out of this house the same way you walked in." Liz said to him, reassuring him slightly.

"And how do you know that?" he sniffs.

"Because I'm-" Liz was interrupted by someone coming into the room.

"I'm flattered but don't stop because of me." Josh said with a small chuckle, Liz losing her grip on Scott.

"What are you doing here?" she asks him confused, before setting eyes on a clock. "Crap, nevermind. I have to go find Barry." she says starting to head off.

"Barry...is he the one with the dog?" Josh asks, stopping Liz in her tracks.

"Yeah..." she says turning to Josh. "Why?"

"I'm sorry, I really am, but he's uh..." he gets quiet.

"No..." Liz sighs, tears beginning to swell. "He's not..."

"Afraid so." Josh says with a frown. "A bird. Still with that dog oddly enough."

"This is my fault! I said we should split up!" Liz yells out upset, tears flowing.

"I'm sure you didn't know." Josh reassures her, hugging her. "Or did you?" he asks a bit more slyly.

Liz pushes Josh away forcefully, "Don't ever say I did that! He was my friend, and no one is getting transformed from here on out!" she says. "From now on, we stick together, no one's turning on my watch!" she says.

"Afraid I can't do that." Josh said. "I'm more of a lone-" he says getting cut off by Liz's hand covering his mouth.

"We stick together, for all of our sakes it's best and you know it." she says, lowering her hand.

"Fine." Josh concedes. "You win, I'll stay with you." he sighs.

"Great, now can we please just get out of here?" Scott speaks up.

"Let's try out in the attic, maybe there's something in there." Liz says as she leads the way, the other two following.

*****

Back inside the win cellar, Bobby continued to enjoy himself, the air-current more wild then ever. It built up and in a second, it stopped completely. The room was getting quite hot, Bobby noticed this. "What in the world..." he says out loud, looking up to the air vent. "Looks like something's covering it..." he slurs, grabbing a small stepstool in the room. He rips out the vent rather easily, and a red dress.

"What in the world?" Bobby says out loud, curious as to why a dress was in a vent. "Why is this even here?" he asks. He freezes for a moment. "Is...is this a trigger!?" he yells out loud, dropping it instantly. Nothing appears to happen, and Bobby let's out a sigh of relief. However, this only caused his eyes to widen. The sigh was high pitched.

"What's happening to me!?" Bobby calls out in a clearly feminine voice, a fur covered hand going over his mouth. "F-fur!?" he calls out as the orange fur grows all the way up his arms, becoming slender as they do. His shoulders crack forward as white fur begins to cover his front, orange fur around it. Bobby's figure contorts itself into an hourglass shape as his waist narrows and hips push outward. Two fur-covered buds push forward as D cup breasts form on Bobby's chest. "B-b-b-b..." Bobby lets out in disbelief, looking down at his new appendages before winching in pain.

A large bushy tail pushes out from Bobby's backside, swaying idly back and forth. Down below, his manhood painfully re-arranges into fully functional womanhood inside and out, changing Bobby's gender officially. Her legs become more slender and the rest of her body becomes covered in orange fur, except for her feet and hands, which were black. Bobby's face pushed outward into a large muzzle, her nose becoming small and black at the tip of it. Bobby's hair grew much longer, reaching her shoulders turning ginger. Her ears became triangular and moved to the top of her head. Her eyes became more feminine as her eyelashes elongated, mascara applying to them. Lastly, purple eyeshadow formed on her eyelids and bright red lipstick formed on her lips.

"Oh God, I-I-I'm a woman!" Bobby squeals out. "And a fox thing!" she says, looking down at her muzzle and tail. "What happened!?" she begins to panic. Suddenly, something clicked in her mind, and she began to calm down. "Why am I so worried?" Bobby asked herself. "I know nothing will happen but I feel like something did..." she said, her thoughts becoming scrambled. "I got it!" she exclaims. "I'm not in my dress!" she says, grabbing the dress off the ground. She puts it on after some trouble, "Odd." Bobby thought, it seemed like she never did this before. After dressing, Bobby looks down at herself. "It's perfect!" she says smiling. "Now what am I doing in this daft old wine cellar? I got to go show off!" she giggles as she walks off.

**********

One got too hot,
And then there were four.

**********

"Maybe I made a mistake, it's not safe to be out all on my own..." Edward pondered to himself as he roamed the ominous halls. "Perhaps I can go find that boy...no no no, it's safer without the others." Edward reassured himself. "Although if I'm with someone they wouldn't be able to catch me off guard..." he began to go back and forth. Edward kept debating to himself, not really paying attention to where he walked. Suddenly, Edward saw an all too familiar door, one that was keeping Bobby inside. His eyes widened as he froze in fear, but it was broken by a voice coming from the room, one he never heard before, and a female's.

"Hello? The door appears to be jammed! Can you help me?" she asked to no one in particular.

Edward pondered to himself for a moment. Did Bobby end up getting transformed? Or did he get out and some girl get trapped? Or was this a trap all in its own?

"Hello? Anyone out there! I'm trapped in here!" she repeated a few more times, hoping someone would hear her.

Edward took a deep breath. There was someone trapped in there, and his good morals got the best of him. "I hear you, there's a chair keeping the door from opening, I'm moving it now." Edward called out to the lass.

"Thank you so much mister!" she says as the door opened.

Edward was speechless as a female vixen, about as tall as himself walked out. "Thank you again!" she says with a smile, kissing Edward on the lips, who was in shock at the whole ordeal. "Say, you look familiar, do I know you?" she asked tilting her head.

"N-n-no." Edward stammered out.

"Why are you so nervous? What's your name dear?" the vixen asked somewhat seductively.

"Ed-Edward." he replied nervously.

"Edward, nice name, I'm Beatrice by the way, very nice to meet you." she says, holding out her hand for Edward.

"Uh...right." Edward said accepting the handshake.

"Now then, I'm off to find others to show this dress off to! I will see you again, yes?" she asks hopefully.

"I uh...hopefully?" Edward said still taken aback by the whole ordeal.

"Great." the vixen said with a smile as she sauntered away, her tail running down Edward's leg.

*****

Liz, Josh, and Scott roamed the halls, inching closer to the attic. "Are you sure this is the right way?" Josh asked skeptically.

"Obviously not, but none of us have seen the attic, and none of us have come this way, so it seems like our best shot." Liz replies annoyed.

The trio wandered down the halls, and set eyes on a pull-down staircase leading to the attic.

"That must be it!" Scott called out excitedly.

"Seems like it, still be on your toes." Liz warns as she pulls down the staircase as Josh and Scott go up, Liz following shortly behind.

"Alright, we have to find some sort of book of something, anything that could explain what's going on or something to reverse it." she orders as Scott, Liz, and Josh begin to search.

Josh searches through a stack of papers and noticed something interesting. "Hey! I think I found something!" he calls out to the room.

"What is it?" Liz asks over to him.

"Get over here! See for yourself!" Josh calls out, holding the paper for Liz to take.

"Ten Little Scoundrels..." Liz reads.

"It's the poem the hat read when he transformed." Josh explains.

"So, this alterationist fellow had this planned? For how long?" Liz asks aloud. "Weeks? Months? Days? And why did he bring us all here?" Liz questions. "Help me search these papers, maybe we'll find something explaining that in here. "Scott! Get over here and come help us look!" Liz calls back to Scott.

However, Scott's attention was caught elsewhere. A peculiar looking mirror. There was clutter covering most of it. Scott began to remove the objects blocking the view. Soon enough, the mirror had a clear sight, with Scott looking into it.

"I can't find anything in here." Liz said defeated, throwing the papers back to the desk.

"Maybe if we had some help we could find something." Josh said snidely.

"Scott? What's with you?" Liz asked, noticing his fascination with the mirror.

"Its so...amazing..." Scott said as if he was in a trance. Liz began to get up and get closer to him, only to freeze as his body began to change.

"No!" she calls out, Josh grabbing her before she could try and run up to the changing Scott.

"It's too late." he said solemnly.

"I promised him he'd be safe..." she says as tears began to swell, turning away; as she couldn't bear to witness her friend transform. Josh allowed her to cry on him, hugging her for comfort as Scott's transformation became more obvious.

Scott's skin was becoming more rough and reptilian as greenish scales began to form on him. His neck expanded as his face contorted. His eyes became smaller and moved to either side of his head, his face pushing out into a kind of muzzle. One by one his teeth began to vanish, as a hard shell began form around him, destroying his clothes in the process. His body shrank down greatly as he went onto all fours. Scott's arms became rounder as his fingers turned into claw-like nails. His feet and legs took on a near identical shape as well. A small tail erupted from his backside as the transformation began to end. His body and skeleton contorted itself to it's appropriate form, that of a turtle. Where Scott stood was now a turtle in a ripped pile of clothes.

"It's over." Josh said, as Liz slowly turned to see Scott's new form. She froze as she saw the new turtle slowly begin to move away.

"It's all my fault, he was scared..." she says quietly.

"You didn't know it would happen." Josh re-assures her.

"No, it is. Everyone I have tried to help have end up being transformed. I promised I'd make sure they were safe, and I failed!" she says tearfully.

"Listen..." Josh says trying to comfort her.

"No. I'm done. Be on your way, I'm done helping, honestly I'm done even trying. I don't care about staying human anymore, I'm done disappointing. Liz says walking away.

"Wait!" Josh shouts out

Liz stops for a moment, but turns and says "Don't stop me, I've made my choice. I'm going to find a nice corner, and sit there until this is over, whether it ends good or bad for us." before walking away. Josh looks at her walk away, taking a deep breath before looking around the attic more.

*****  

"Was that...him?" Edward asks himself surprised. He enters into the wine cellar, if she was in there Bobby had to have been gone. He looked around for clues as to who the vixen used to be. He noticed the open air vent, along with a pile of clothes nearby it. Upon closer examination, he noticed it was the clothes Bobby was wearing during their encounter. "Can't say I'm sorry for him." Edward chuckles to himself. "This Beatrice woman, fox, thing is already better than him." Edward got up and let out a loud sigh. "What did it? The vent?" he asked himself, bringing himself up to examine it. Suddenly, a kind of ball entered into his vision. Quickly, he jumped down and out of the path of fire to avoid being hit. The ball shot out of the vent and rested in the room. Edward kept his distance for safety, but the ball exploded out into a bright flash of light. He couldn't close his eyes quick enough to avoid it, and the blast was so strong, it knocked him out cold.

**********

One's past caught up to them,
And then there were three.

**********

Liz walked down the halls of the mansion solemnly with her head down. After the incidents involving Scott and Barry, she was completely done with everything. She stopped caring about escaping, stopped caring about herself, and stopped caring about the others. Liz walked into the first bedroom she could find, and just lied down on the bed, staring up at the ceiling. She decided to just sit back and wait for fate to take care of her.

And fate would do just that. Liz laid still with a stone, unmoving expression on her face. She wore a completely defeated face, and simply began to tear up. As she did, someone came into the room. Liz didn't bother to care, or even look up at them as she was ready for whatever was going to be thrown at her. The footsteps grew closer to Liz, as some sort of mask came down onto her face. It would turn out to be a white masquerade mask. Liz didn't try to take it off or resist, and simply let the transformation happen.

Liz's skin became more rough as it began to turn green. As reptilian scales replaced her original skin, her body began to get smaller and smaller. Liz's arms and legs became smaller to fit her new proportion as they became clawed. Liz was forced onto all fours as her bone structure altered. As her body went into a small arc, a long tail elongated out from her backside, curling up at the tip. Liz's head began to contort as her mouth went out into a muzzle, her eyes becoming much larger moving to either side of her head. Her hair fell out as her jaw became larger, her nose becoming two slits. Lastly, she shrunk completely into her clothes. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, after Liz's mind truly became altered, the new chameleon crawled out from the clothes. However, by this point the person was long gone.

**********

One went to hide,
And then there were two.

**********

Edward awoke on the floor in the main living room. He tried to get up, stopped by restraints on his wrists. He looked around to try and find anyone. "Hello?" he called, hearing the echo in the near empty house. "What happened?" Edward asks himself confused, looking at the ropes tying him down.

"The questions isn't what happened, but what will." a voice called out from the shadows.

"Wait...I know that voice, who are you?" Edward calls out.

"My dear Edward, I'm offended you don't remember." the voice says, Josh stepping out from the shadows.

"Oh good it's you, untie me before that madman gets to me!" Edward says hastily.

"Unfortunately, it's too late, for he is standing before you now." Josh responds with a smirk.

"Wait...you're the alterationist!?" Edward calls out in a panic. "Why are you doing all this!?"

"Isn't it obvious though? You see, I had this illustrated since before you even came." Josh begins explaining. "Everyone here is, as I say, a scoundrel. It's merely time that karma caught up to them."

"Sure, some of them are scoundrels, but that doesn't mean they deserve to lose their bodies!" Edward yells back.

"And yet, they did." Josh replies smugly. "Now they get a brand new start, where they can actually be good samaritans." Josh says.

"But why did you do what you did? Why transform people?" Edward asks in confusion and fear.

"Well, I'm a fan of just deserts, and since you don't have much longer, I'll tell you everything." Josh says slyly. "Sophie was the first to change because I was the only one that knew her before hand. Take her out of the picture first, I'm the least likely suspect. Of course, her new fin and gills were well deserved." Josh says, pausing to chuckle for a moment. "She bribed and slept her way up to being captain of the swim team."

As Josh began to go on, Edward quietly began to twiddle around with his restraints, hoping to loosen them. "Next was Darren, the quiet and mysterious one, and one thing no one asked was why? Well, he ratted out a lot of people, and made it onto a lot of people's hit lists." he says. "I figured it was time for him to tell the same thing forever, stop ruining other people's lives, including my own brother's!"

Edward hit something as he found an opening in the knot. He tried to maintain his composure as he tried to undo it. "Then Jessica, housewife to your best friend Bobby. Their marital issues wasn't all Bobby. You see, Jessica wanted to rule everything, run the show. She became a hippo due to the weight she put on other's shoulders."

"Of course you're former master Smith, I think you know why he was such a scoundrel, and he became a dog because it's about time he took orders and was loyal to someone else, so now he's essentially you!" Josh says laughing uncontrollably. "Barry joined in on the fun as a bird. All he wanted was to be free from life's tedious obstacles thrown at him all his life, and now he is, quite literally as free as a bird! Barry did a lot of things throughout his life, including sabotage to get to where he was in his career. He's not innocent, he only portrays himself as such."

As Josh went on Edward managed to break out of one of the knots, and began on the other restraint. "And of course there's Bobby, the new vixen. I'll admit my nicest transformation, but for Bobby, it's pure torture. You see, even though they appear gone, the old mind is still there, unable to control anything, a mere observer." Josh explained. "Bobby abused both his wife and animals, quite frequently so. Not exactly right in the head that one. His despise for both woman and animals made me think of the ingenious idea to give him the body of both!"

Edward tried as best he could to undo the other knot without Josh seeing he broke free of one, but was finding it rather difficult to do. "Scott, always late to the party, terrified of it all. I figured I should leave him as one of the last so people would stay to comfort him, something that would be ol' Lizzie's downfall." Josh says chuckling madly. "A turtle would do him good, he needs to learn about how being slow can have a nasty effect on things, such as MY time in the spotlight, or lack thereof because of him!"

"And of course there's little Lizzie, I left her for last so she'd be easy to turn. All of the people she tried to save transformed, it was almost too easy." Josh chuckles. "She did oh so much to others, and tried to hide it by being the leader. Now she's the best hider ever, a chameleon!" Josh begins to lose it more.

Edward finally managed to break free of the restraint's knots, waiting to attack. "And finally you." Josh says looking over to Edward. "The grand finale, my trophy if you will." Josh says going to the piano in the room. "You see, that's exactly what you will become, with this lovely song I picked out just for you." Josh chuckles, as he plays a few random notes.

"That's great, but there's one flaw in your plan." Edward says with a confident smirk.

"Oh? And what is that?" Josh asks turning to Edward.

"You really aren't good with knots." Edward says as he rips of the rope, charging at Josh. Panicked, Josh began to try and play the first few notes to kickstart the transformation, only to be stopped as Edward tackles him down to the ground. On top of him and much stronger, Edward began to attack Josh. Josh attempted to fight back, to no avail. Edward's berate was to much to overpower. As Josh was weakened, Edward got up and went to the piano. "You want a trophy so bad? Why don't you become one!" Edward looks at the score and begins playing keys.

"N-no! Wait!" Josh says slowly getting up.

"It's too late for that, you've done things that can't be forgiven. Since you're such a fan of karma, why don't you take some yourself?" Edward says as puts in the ear plugs next to the piano and begins to play.

"You can't do this to me! I run the show! I planned out the WHOLE thing!" Josh says starting to walk over, only to have his feet stopped working. Looking down, his shoes were gone and his skin was stone, slowly turning as it traveled up his legs. As Josh lost his ability to walk, he could only watch as Edward continued with pure concentration on the song.

"Okay you win! I won't turn you if you stop!" Josh began to sound desperate. By now, his whole lower half had turned to stone, crawling up faster and Edward picked up the tempo. "P-please stop!" Josh began to cry out in fear. He lost control of his arms and hands as his whole body save for his head was made of stone. "I-I'm..." Josh was stopped as his lips became sealed shut, the last of him turning into stone. As Edward held out the last note, Josh's transformation into a statue concluded.

Edward took out his earplugs and looked over to the petrified Josh. He let out a small scoff. Edward ran his hand down Josh, seeing that he was a statue through and through. "There's your trophy you bastard." he says to himself. He then heads right towards the front door. He unlocked it and opened it. Whatever was keeping everyone locked in must have been something Josh was doing. Now a stone, his magic on it seemed to have stopped working. "Free at last." Edward said to himself as he walked out and closed to door.

**********

The Alterationist had his fun,
He was defeated.

**********

Edward looked around and found a rock on the ground. He picked it up and scratched "Stay Away." onto the door as legible as he could. Edward dropped the rock and began to walk away from the manor. Before leaving the manor grounds, he took one last look back at it and muttered five words to himself.

"And then there was one."


End