((Leona Van Kamp continued from Memories of a Past Life))
The shopping center would have been closer to Leona's natural habitat. Not quite a stage, but shopping was one of her few auxiliary pleasures. Perhaps seeking some degree of normality was what spurred her to circumvent the blockade through an emergency exit. It still took some finagling, and she barked her shin on a shopping cart trying to shove through.
What she found was disappointing, of course. Nothing worthwhile as a weapon. No makeup remaining in the glass cases of what she garnered was an apartment store; after being so long on the island she would have liked to perform some maintenance. All she found was silence, which was not entirely unwelcome. The whirlwind of the past few days merited some peace.
A sudden flash of dizziness warranted her to sit dwn at one of the benches in the middle of the shopping center hall. The blow to the head was still bothering her a little. She glanced down at the table leg in her hand and shook her head. She would definitely have to be more careful in the future.
Leona slung her arms across the back of the bench and settled, taking the moment to gather herself.
Platinum
((Timothy Abrams continued from Hortensius))
Timothy paused to catch his breath as he re-entered the shopping mall. Hopefully it was empty this time too. He needed a place to rest and collect his thoughts. After a quick glance over his shoulder, he continued forward, the replica flamethrower weighing on his back.
How long had been carrying this? As if it had done him any good. He wasn't exactly one for intimidation, and it would be worse than useless in a fight. Why had he abandoned all his friends one by one, yet still was hanging on to this worthless paperweight? The idea was simply ridiculous.
Just as he was about to take it off, he noticed someone at the other end of the hall. He didn't know her too well, but she seemed alright in the few classes that he had seen her in. She didn't look armed either, so he figured that it couldn't hurt just to go up to her and talk for a while. If anything were to happen he could just run away. He seemed to be good at that.
He walked up to the bench and waved at Leona, greeting her the only way that he knew how.
"Hey, how's it going?"
He winced at the awkwardness of the words as they left his mouth. Who greets someone so casually in a situation like this? He really should think more before he approached people from now on.
Timothy paused to catch his breath as he re-entered the shopping mall. Hopefully it was empty this time too. He needed a place to rest and collect his thoughts. After a quick glance over his shoulder, he continued forward, the replica flamethrower weighing on his back.
How long had been carrying this? As if it had done him any good. He wasn't exactly one for intimidation, and it would be worse than useless in a fight. Why had he abandoned all his friends one by one, yet still was hanging on to this worthless paperweight? The idea was simply ridiculous.
Just as he was about to take it off, he noticed someone at the other end of the hall. He didn't know her too well, but she seemed alright in the few classes that he had seen her in. She didn't look armed either, so he figured that it couldn't hurt just to go up to her and talk for a while. If anything were to happen he could just run away. He seemed to be good at that.
He walked up to the bench and waved at Leona, greeting her the only way that he knew how.
"Hey, how's it going?"
He winced at the awkwardness of the words as they left his mouth. Who greets someone so casually in a situation like this? He really should think more before he approached people from now on.
Leona didn't look over at the new arrival, not at first. She was still in the process of gathering her thoughts. So it was her answer was delayed as she stared down the hallway.
She seemed to snap back to the world after a minute or so, and turned to face Tim, blinking as if to clear her eyes.
"Sorry." She cleared her throat and brought one of her hands up rub her mouth.
"It's going alright, I guess." She gave Tim a light smile. "About as alright as it can go, considering."
The small wavered as the announcements started up, the voice cutting through the silence of the shopping center.
She seemed to snap back to the world after a minute or so, and turned to face Tim, blinking as if to clear her eyes.
"Sorry." She cleared her throat and brought one of her hands up rub her mouth.
"It's going alright, I guess." She gave Tim a light smile. "About as alright as it can go, considering."
The small wavered as the announcements started up, the voice cutting through the silence of the shopping center.
Timothy stood silent, listening to the announcements. The words washed over him like a torrent of filth, making him more sick to his stomach as the speech went on.
Finally, he dropped his bag to the ground. So. Two more deaths, all his fault. He had run away, again and again, and his friends had all suffered for his cowardice. They were all dead, and all his plans were collapsing around him. It just wasn't fair. All he wanted was to hold out with his friends until rescue arrived.
Timothy could feel tears welling up in his eyes. He wanted to kick, he wanted to scream, he wanted to have a tantrum just like a little kid.
Instead, he just stood there, staring straight forward into space.
Finally, he dropped his bag to the ground. So. Two more deaths, all his fault. He had run away, again and again, and his friends had all suffered for his cowardice. They were all dead, and all his plans were collapsing around him. It just wasn't fair. All he wanted was to hold out with his friends until rescue arrived.
Timothy could feel tears welling up in his eyes. He wanted to kick, he wanted to scream, he wanted to have a tantrum just like a little kid.
Instead, he just stood there, staring straight forward into space.
The steadiness of the clip of the perishing was simply astounding. Leona wondered at the stamina of her classmates to be able to sustain it for so long.
She guessed it helped that she was a contributor.
Maybe would be a little longer, by the way Timothy looked. He was staring, unwavering. He looked like some cable inside him had snapped. Leona didn't want to have to do anything, but she wasn't sure whas was going on in the boys head. That, and she was curious about what it was strapped to his back.
Her hand slid inside her coat, unobtrusively. When her name came up on the announcements, she took hold of the wrapped handle.
"Another day's work." She said, looking for some sort of response.
She guessed it helped that she was a contributor.
Maybe would be a little longer, by the way Timothy looked. He was staring, unwavering. He looked like some cable inside him had snapped. Leona didn't want to have to do anything, but she wasn't sure whas was going on in the boys head. That, and she was curious about what it was strapped to his back.
Her hand slid inside her coat, unobtrusively. When her name came up on the announcements, she took hold of the wrapped handle.
"Another day's work." She said, looking for some sort of response.
Timothy turned to face the Leona as she spoke. He looked at her for a moment, confused, before he finally realised what had happened. She had been on the announcements too.
Crap.
This was not good. This was not good at all. Timothy stared at the girl in front of him. It was kind of hard to tell due to her big coat, but she seemed pretty athletic. She'd most likely be able to outrun him even if he did manage to drop the weight on his back.
He wasn't feeling very optimistic at this point, but... maybe she had a good reason for it? She didn't look crazy like Travis did. In any case, it wouldn't hurt to try and talk things out before making a break for it. He spoke quietly, trying to sound confident, but the wavering in his voice made that impossible.
"Why'd you do it?"
Crap.
This was not good. This was not good at all. Timothy stared at the girl in front of him. It was kind of hard to tell due to her big coat, but she seemed pretty athletic. She'd most likely be able to outrun him even if he did manage to drop the weight on his back.
He wasn't feeling very optimistic at this point, but... maybe she had a good reason for it? She didn't look crazy like Travis did. In any case, it wouldn't hurt to try and talk things out before making a break for it. He spoke quietly, trying to sound confident, but the wavering in his voice made that impossible.
"Why'd you do it?"
A strand of hair fell into Leona's eye, and she flipped her head to move it back. Her lips curled up at the ends, a slight smile. By now her eyes were boring into Tim.
She shrugged at the question.
"Why anyone does anything, I guess." She leaned forward, starting to rock her weight from the bench to her heels. When she had gained her feet, she resumed.
"The girl-Jenna. She worried me. I don't think was playing with a full deck." Leona stopped and chuckled at the though.
"It was a risk, you know? I was right about her in the end." Leona pulled back her hair with her free hand to show the gash where she had been struck by Jenna. "She gave me this. Even when she was dying, she had the courtesy to prove me right."
Leona's gaze flicked to what she could see of what Timothy had strapped to her back. Her curiosity had quite conclusively been piqued.
"What about you?" She asked, a note of resignation creeping into her tone. "Are you all together?"
She shrugged at the question.
"Why anyone does anything, I guess." She leaned forward, starting to rock her weight from the bench to her heels. When she had gained her feet, she resumed.
"The girl-Jenna. She worried me. I don't think was playing with a full deck." Leona stopped and chuckled at the though.
"It was a risk, you know? I was right about her in the end." Leona pulled back her hair with her free hand to show the gash where she had been struck by Jenna. "She gave me this. Even when she was dying, she had the courtesy to prove me right."
Leona's gaze flicked to what she could see of what Timothy had strapped to her back. Her curiosity had quite conclusively been piqued.
"What about you?" She asked, a note of resignation creeping into her tone. "Are you all together?"
"Uh, I guess I'm doing alright. No major injuries or anything..."
Timothy could feel his chest tightening. What could he possibly say here? How could she just take it so lightly. He could understand if she tried to say that she was forced into it or something, but this... It was hard to tell whether or not she had done it on purpose. Either way, this was not someone that would be good to stay around for long.
He took a step back, keeping his eyes on Leona. Maybe he could still get out of here. He just needed to be calm and do this carefully. Timothy pushed his glasses further up his face and began to speak.
"Um, well, I need to get going right now, because I, I'm looking for someone and I probably need to hurry if I'm going to catch up with him. It was nice talking to you and everything. Sorry that I need to, uh, leave so soon."
Crap, that sounded much better in his head. He swallowed hard. This situation was just getting worse and worse.
Timothy could feel his chest tightening. What could he possibly say here? How could she just take it so lightly. He could understand if she tried to say that she was forced into it or something, but this... It was hard to tell whether or not she had done it on purpose. Either way, this was not someone that would be good to stay around for long.
He took a step back, keeping his eyes on Leona. Maybe he could still get out of here. He just needed to be calm and do this carefully. Timothy pushed his glasses further up his face and began to speak.
"Um, well, I need to get going right now, because I, I'm looking for someone and I probably need to hurry if I'm going to catch up with him. It was nice talking to you and everything. Sorry that I need to, uh, leave so soon."
Crap, that sounded much better in his head. He swallowed hard. This situation was just getting worse and worse.
Leona gave Tim a nod.
"Good to hear. It's hard to stay intact around here. You go ahead. I'll see you around."
Her eyes flicked again to the pack on Tim's back. The hand in her jacket gripped the shard of glass tighter.
"Good to hear. It's hard to stay intact around here. You go ahead. I'll see you around."
Her eyes flicked again to the pack on Tim's back. The hand in her jacket gripped the shard of glass tighter.
Timothy breathed a sigh of relief. It worked. He wasn't exactly sure how, but it did.
In any case, it would be best not to waste this opportunity. He took a couple steps back before turning and walking away as calmly and casually as he could manage.
All he had to do was walk a little bit further until he was a safe distance away, then make a run for it. His heart was beating heavily in his chest as he focused on the exit.
In any case, it would be best not to waste this opportunity. He took a couple steps back before turning and walking away as calmly and casually as he could manage.
All he had to do was walk a little bit further until he was a safe distance away, then make a run for it. His heart was beating heavily in his chest as he focused on the exit.
Leona might have been able to muse on the fact that doing all of this got easier with each one. But then, it would have been difficult to do in the first place. When she had decided to take Jenna out of the game, it had been a binary choice, with little gray to muddle the proceedings. Jenna represented a future obstacle, and Leona had had an oppportunity to hurdle it.
Tim wasn't an obstacle, sure. But what he possessed may well have been an asset, another trick to add to the repertoire.
So when Leona sprung at Tim, glass knife brandished, everything happened naturally.
Her hand thrust repeatedly, high, up toward Tim's neck. It was the only point she was sure would get the job done, in her admittedly limited experience. She was sure the first, wild stabs were off-target, higher toward Tim's face or lower near his collarbone. But she calibrated, adjusted, made certain of her work.
Tim wasn't an obstacle, sure. But what he possessed may well have been an asset, another trick to add to the repertoire.
So when Leona sprung at Tim, glass knife brandished, everything happened naturally.
Her hand thrust repeatedly, high, up toward Tim's neck. It was the only point she was sure would get the job done, in her admittedly limited experience. She was sure the first, wild stabs were off-target, higher toward Tim's face or lower near his collarbone. But she calibrated, adjusted, made certain of her work.
Timothy stopped in his tracks as a chocking noise burst out of his throat. His hands instantly rose to his neck as he fell to the ground. He could feel the warmth leaving him, covering his hands and pooling onto the floor.
His chest tightened in fear. This couldn't be happening. He was supposed to get rescued and get home to his family, like what happened the last time. It just wasn't fair!
His thoughts were interrupted as he involuntarily gasped for air. Unfortunately, none came. His vision grew dark as a strangled cry for his mother left his mouth.
It looked like rescue wasn't coming after all.
B055: TIMOTHY ABRAMS - DECEASED
His chest tightened in fear. This couldn't be happening. He was supposed to get rescued and get home to his family, like what happened the last time. It just wasn't fair!
His thoughts were interrupted as he involuntarily gasped for air. Unfortunately, none came. His vision grew dark as a strangled cry for his mother left his mouth.
It looked like rescue wasn't coming after all.
B055: TIMOTHY ABRAMS - DECEASED
Where Jenna went down with some semblance of a fight, Timothy just seemed to wilt, as if Leona had simply poked a hole in an inflatable pool. She almost laughed at the image before he cried for his mother. She stifled the laugh; seemed altogether disrespectful.
The glass knife disapeared with a flourish back into her jacket after she wiped both ends on the back of Tim's leg. She looked him over for a solid minute to be sure he was truly well and done before she set about answering her questions about the pack he was lugging around. The object attached to it looked like a gun, so she picked it up, finger slipping around the trigger.
When she squeezed, there was no notable response. She frowned, looked around the object, trying to see if there was some lever or catch she was missing. It didn't take her long to realize that it was nothing more than dead weight.
She let the weapon fall to the tiled floor of the shopping center with a clang. Her eyes crept back over Tim. She rubbed the back of her head.
"Well...I apologize."
Timothy's silence spoke volumes.
"Mistakes get made. The show resumes either way, you know?"
Leona sighed, bent down again, rummaged through Tim's pack. He had a few supplies still worth taking. She transferred them to her own bag.
She lingered a moment longer. She offered one last consolation.
"You'll be ok."
And then she was off.
((Leona Van Kamp continued in Layabout))
The glass knife disapeared with a flourish back into her jacket after she wiped both ends on the back of Tim's leg. She looked him over for a solid minute to be sure he was truly well and done before she set about answering her questions about the pack he was lugging around. The object attached to it looked like a gun, so she picked it up, finger slipping around the trigger.
When she squeezed, there was no notable response. She frowned, looked around the object, trying to see if there was some lever or catch she was missing. It didn't take her long to realize that it was nothing more than dead weight.
She let the weapon fall to the tiled floor of the shopping center with a clang. Her eyes crept back over Tim. She rubbed the back of her head.
"Well...I apologize."
Timothy's silence spoke volumes.
"Mistakes get made. The show resumes either way, you know?"
Leona sighed, bent down again, rummaged through Tim's pack. He had a few supplies still worth taking. She transferred them to her own bag.
She lingered a moment longer. She offered one last consolation.
"You'll be ok."
And then she was off.
((Leona Van Kamp continued in Layabout))