PLAY the PART (AIOxSyberia)

⟢ CHAPTER I ⟣

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What started as a simple morning spent repairing Cali's arm—again—using specific tools from the otherwise empty factory that day, turned into a rather bizarre hostage situation that no one outside the building was aware of happening. The four automatons put themselves between the stranger and the four humans. "Sorry, but who even are you?"
"Irrelevant." The stranger answered, giving Kate Walker a subtle smirk. "Oh, forgive me, I was simply thinking otherwise." Kate retorted, doing her best to hold back any bite to her tone.

"What d-do you even want with us?" Maddelyn Vorarlberg asked, being shielded by her father and grandfather—who were both in Valadilène visiting her to begin with. "My reasons will slowly reveal themselves as time goes on." The stranger told, facial reactions hidden by his overshadowing apparel. "All you are required to do, is to play your roles—lest misfortunes befall you all." Kate's face contorted somewhat in confusion. "Roles? What Roles?" This was met with an evil smirk.

Before anything else could be said, the stranger suddenly vanished in a cloud of dark magic. The humans all stood frozen, still in a state of shock. The automatons, however, almost instantly began trying to find ways to exit the building.

As they continued trying, only to fail with each attempt, confused looks of concerned were shared across the room. "Kate, what just happened?"
"I... have no idea..."

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The final day of the long weekend came upon the town of Odyssey. as Monday rolled around. Just like all the other small businesses in town, Whit's End was staying closed to customers until the next day.

Despite it's doors being closed to the public, there was still a crowd gathered in the Ice Cream Parlor. Plans had been made for these folks to spend the day in one another's company.

A couple different conversations were being had as John Avery Whittaker handed one of his friend's, Bernard Walton, his cup of coffee. "Thanks, Whit."

"No Problem." Whit replied, walking out from behind the counter to enjoy his own up on one of the bar stools. As he did, some laughter suddenly broke out from the table behind him. Wooton, Penny, Katrina and Jason sat at said table, engage in what Whit assumed to be a rather amusing conversation. Smiling, the man turned back around, listening in on the conversation Bernard was now having with Tom Riley. Whit took a sip of his coffee as his two friends talked.

The pleasant ambiance created by the fellowship of friends was interrupted rather suddenly. A tremor was felt as it rumbled the very structure of Whit's End. The room fell silent very quickly. "... What was that?" Buck slowly asked, but nobody had an answer.

"Apologies," A new, unfamiliar voice began. Heads turned, everyone spotting a man dressed in dark, overshadowing clothes suddenly standing in their midst. "My sealment spells are usually more smoothly executed than that." He explained, making a vague gesture towards the windows. They looked as though they were frosted over with a thick, lightly colored and sparkling film—rendering their transparency useless.

Standing up from his stool, Whit set his coffee down on the counter before addressing the stranger. "What do you mean? Who are you?" The man gave a small nod in Whit's direction. "You must be Whittaker, correct?"
"Hey! You didn't answer the question." Jason Whittaker snapped, he too standing up. He could very much tell the guy hadn't turned up for an ice cream. Jason, being put on guard, was more than willing to place himself between him and his Dad.