Dionysus Other crows sit on the arms of the cross.

Dionysus Thirteen in all.

Dionysus A voice, the Devil's, comes from somewhere nearby, "Well, well, well, Grayson. It's been a while."

Jack_C "Grayson's not 'ere...fuckoff."

Jack_C "In fact..."

Dionysus "Yes, I admit, I enjoyed watching the betrayal. You should have listened to me."

Jack_C I sing Avalon Winter.

Dionysus As you sing, he seems to be responding to a different conversation.

Dionysus "Well, I'm here to offer another deal."

Dionysus "This time, a contest."

• Jack_C stops, and listens.

Dionysus "Oh, you've no where to run."

Dionysus When you stop singing, he stops, as if waiting for a response.

Jack_C I keep singing then.

Jack_C but I listen.

Dionysus "So here's the contest, Mister-I-Won't-Listen. So rude, you know. If you can stay awake, despite the agony, all night, come dawn, I will grant the Runners the power to have victory over the forces of Terror. If you don't... I get your soul."

Dionysus He laughs as you sing another line.

Dionysus "Well, I could let things play out normally, but that would be no fun."

Dionysus "Don't be stubborn, Grayson."

Dionysus "Very well. I will return five more times."

Dionysus And the crows fly away.

• Jack_C keeps singing, and listening.

Dionysus Hours pass, it seems, then they return. The Devil's voice comes back, this time giving the same deal.

Dionysus This time, the aura of light that surrounded the Devil when you tried to turn him returns, & the same cracking happens, & the same bodily twisting feeling.

Dionysus The Devil says he'll be back, menacingly, then flies off.

Dionysus The agony is worse for the next hour.

Jack_C "GYRRH"

Jack_C picks back up the singing and listening.

Jack_C and sits up to do so.

Dionysus When he returns next, he this time makes the offer & accompanies it with a vision. You don't have much strength to sing, but you manage to gasp it out.

Dionysus The vision is twofold: one where a man named Jedidiah kills a woman named Jumana, the other where he fails. In the one where he kills her, the King of Thorns conquers the world, the forces of darkness war over the remains, & then, the good gods die. In the other, the King of Thorns is thwarted by the woman Jumana.

Dionysus When the visions end, the Devil responds to your singing by saying, "Still refusing, you bent, foolish old man? Very well."

Dionysus And he flies off again.

Dionysus The fourth time he comes, he waves the smell of food before you, of sustenance, to taunt you cruelly.

• Jack_C gets up to lean on the wall for the next part.
• Jack_C chuckles. "Gotta do better than that..."

Dionysus You're tied to a Cross in the vision. Movement is impossible.

Dionysus But again, evidently, Grayson refuses.

Dionysus The fifth time, the Devil pecks out your eyes.

Dionysus "Delicious. Still answering no?"

Jack_C "Still no, mate. sorry."

Dionysus "The pain is horrible, yes? But you are surviving. Only three hours til dawn. The offer stands. You can make it!"

Jack_C "And you can...fock off..."

Dionysus "One last chance, in an hour, my old nemesis."

Dionysus And he flies off.

Dionysus The last hour seems to last forever, & when he returns this time, he merely says, "This is the last time I will ask, Grayson Caer. Do you accept the challenge of Agony?"

Jack_C "I don't...play...with desparate...liars..."

Dionysus Triumphant laughter. "I knew you'd come around."

Jack_C "No."

Dionysus "Two hours til dawn. If you stay awake, you will triumph over evil. If not, you will suffer like this for eternity in my little jar."

Dionysus And the crows fly off.

Jack_C "I said no..."

Jack_C "I said no!"

Dionysus Two cruel looking men approach, carrying cat o' nine tails.

Jack_C "I didn't take the terms!"

Dionysus "The birds done got his eyes..." "Aye, lets take his skin."

Dionysus And they begin to flay you. The pain is horrific.

Dionysus And you black out.

Jack_C "I didn't...I didn't..."