Alex nervously paced the inside of a bedroom, a lot on her mind.
SOTF. That was... supposed to be gone. Gone. History. A thing of a past. Not here. She had to be dreaming, wasn't she? This was an awfully complex, dream, though, for her to dream up exact details like her teachers being murdered, Danya coming back, her finding a fan when she opened her bag, and so on! But it was a dream, right?
Even after a while, though, Alex realized she wasn't dreaming. Denial only worked for so long, and she wasn't the kind of person to stick to denial forever. There were many things she knew could be brushed aside, but not for long. Especially SOTF.
Alex didn't cry when she woke up. She didn't whimper, she didn't beg for mercy, not anything. And yet, like everyone else, she wasn't sure what to do. She knew there were plenty of options. But she knew one thing.
Alex wasn't going to kill an innocent.
In fact, wasn't escape possible? They succeeded last time. In fact, there was always a spot they missed, something they completely forgot about. Someone even managed to remove a collar last time, so really, there was going to be something out there that would help them escape.
But how? Alex wasn't particularly tech savvy, so she didn't know how to look at collar removal or ways to send out a signal. But she knew one thing; she and as many of her classmates as possible were going to stay alive, she was sure of that. Make no mistake about that!
It seemed that Alex wanted to find a way off. In fact, she was willing to do so no matter the costs. Her own life, you name it. The ends justified the means, didn't it? Alex was pretty idealistic about this sort of thing, but even she knew she was going to have to give some things up.
And then there were the players.
If she had said that no one in her school was going to play, she would have been an idiot. Of course people were going to start killing others. He just gave them an invite to do so. Alex highly doubted there wouldn't be anyone who would jump at the chance to kill someone, for the chance of survival or, in the worst case scenario, out of pre-existing sadism and sociopathy. She heard something about a Mr. Lombardi last time, who killed his way through the game.
She could keep denying it... but... there was always someone who was going to be a Lombardi.
Alex placed herself on a bed, rubbing her forehead from the remaining headache as a result of the drugs.
Really. Perhaps she could attempt talking to some of the players, convincing them not to play. But what if they resisted, or attacked her in response? Well, one option would be-
.....
What just popped into her head?
She couldn't do that, could she?
Maybe she could, but it wouldn't be something she would like. It was something that would give others the wrong idea, and she didn't want to do something like that. But it seemed like the logical thing to do, didn't it? After all, it would stop them, of course. Of course something like that would stop them. But was it right?
Well, one thing was certain.
She had a feeling she was going to succeed in her goal, if escape was possible. She was ninety nine percent sure of it! She just needed to find a way to get the killers out of the way, find a way to get everyone off the island without the terrorists noticing, and then make it home. There was always a way. No one was going to get away with anything here.
No innocents were going to die. Not on her watch.
She smiled.
Even if she failed, even if the worst possible scenario happened, she knew that she was doing the right thing. She wasn't a bad girl. She just wanted to make sure as many people were safe. She couldn't save them all, and indeed some weren't even worth saving. But there was still a way.
Alex was sure of it!
Tower of Alexandria
Start of G02
Gwen O'Connor: V5 START
Gwen was hiding.
She was in a closet, peeking through a shade, watching Alex whatshername pacing. She was terrified; this was Sotf, this was the thing everyone was scared of. People died a lot in it. Gwen wasn't sure how to react to this; she wanted to laugh, cry, scream, beg, do anything to get out. But there was nothing to do. She was stuck. It was dark and cool in the closet, but bare save for a duffel bag and Gwen's person.
Gwen had awoken curled up in said closet, and hadn't panicked or anything. Her bag was lying on the ground, the rubber mallet weapon inside was now in her hand. She heard Alex, and she'd shut up so Alex didn't kill her. Alex seemed nice enough, as far as Gwen knew, but she wasn't close enough to determine if she would kill people.
She sat down, curled up in the fetal position. She wanted her kitty-cat. She wanted her dad. She wanted her mom, even. She wanted to go to Seattle, or Disneyland, or anywhere that wasn't this random island full of classmates and terrorists. She started to sniffle, unable to contain her sorrow. She couldn't hurt anyone, and with this weapon she couldn't protect herself. She was cannon fodder in the eyes of everyone.
She broke down into sobs. She had no idea what to do. She was going to die unfulfilled, never making a difference, never doing anything worthwhile but being a body in a headcount in a deathcount and oh Jesus help her.
She sobbed harder.
Gwen was hiding.
She was in a closet, peeking through a shade, watching Alex whatshername pacing. She was terrified; this was Sotf, this was the thing everyone was scared of. People died a lot in it. Gwen wasn't sure how to react to this; she wanted to laugh, cry, scream, beg, do anything to get out. But there was nothing to do. She was stuck. It was dark and cool in the closet, but bare save for a duffel bag and Gwen's person.
Gwen had awoken curled up in said closet, and hadn't panicked or anything. Her bag was lying on the ground, the rubber mallet weapon inside was now in her hand. She heard Alex, and she'd shut up so Alex didn't kill her. Alex seemed nice enough, as far as Gwen knew, but she wasn't close enough to determine if she would kill people.
She sat down, curled up in the fetal position. She wanted her kitty-cat. She wanted her dad. She wanted her mom, even. She wanted to go to Seattle, or Disneyland, or anywhere that wasn't this random island full of classmates and terrorists. She started to sniffle, unable to contain her sorrow. She couldn't hurt anyone, and with this weapon she couldn't protect herself. She was cannon fodder in the eyes of everyone.
She broke down into sobs. She had no idea what to do. She was going to die unfulfilled, never making a difference, never doing anything worthwhile but being a body in a headcount in a deathcount and oh Jesus help her.
She sobbed harder.
Alex lowered her head to the ground, thinking harder.
Really, she was sure that there was a way out of here. There was no doubt about that. She just needed to figure out how. Alex was feeling pretty optimistic, and, well, lucky.
A million worst case scenarios popped into her head. There was still the issue of killers not backing down, resulting in the worst option. There was the fact that the terrorists could spot what she was doing, and detonate her collar. There were probably people going to attack her if she ever made it clear that she was trying to initiate an escape.
Really, a lot of bad things could happen!
But she knew there was a way to overcome it. She just needed to find that way.
Was that a sob?
Alex's head snapped up, looking at the closet. Someone was hiding there, and whoever they were, it was creeping her out. How long had they been in there? Were they watching her the entire time? Were they waiting?
She slowly lifted herself off the bed, and gently walked towards the door. A tenseness came over her as she remembered she didn't have an actual weapon. What if the person in there was armed?
Alex's hand touched the handle of the closet, firmly gripping it.
With a breath, she slammed the door open.
Really, she was sure that there was a way out of here. There was no doubt about that. She just needed to figure out how. Alex was feeling pretty optimistic, and, well, lucky.
A million worst case scenarios popped into her head. There was still the issue of killers not backing down, resulting in the worst option. There was the fact that the terrorists could spot what she was doing, and detonate her collar. There were probably people going to attack her if she ever made it clear that she was trying to initiate an escape.
Really, a lot of bad things could happen!
But she knew there was a way to overcome it. She just needed to find that way.
Was that a sob?
Alex's head snapped up, looking at the closet. Someone was hiding there, and whoever they were, it was creeping her out. How long had they been in there? Were they watching her the entire time? Were they waiting?
She slowly lifted herself off the bed, and gently walked towards the door. A tenseness came over her as she remembered she didn't have an actual weapon. What if the person in there was armed?
Alex's hand touched the handle of the closet, firmly gripping it.
With a breath, she slammed the door open.
Gwen gasped. Then she screamed.
"AAAAHHH! No, please don't kill me!" She squealed, curling inwards with her hands covering her head in the butterball position. She didn't want to die so soon! Not pitifully hiding in a closet like this. "Nooo...." Her voice trailed off as she looked back up at Alex.
"Uhm..." she said, staring at the other girl's face. "You...you aren't going to kill me, right?" Gwen knew she was overreacting and panicking and hyperventilating and other things, but she figured this was probably an overreaction considering Alex's normal disposition, as far as she knew.
"Sorry. I'm kind of stressed, buuut I guess that's sort of normal, given this scenario, right? Heh." She smiled, forcefully. It was a crappy smile, but Gwen didn't care. She was glad to find someone who wasn't likely to kill her, unlike say Brandon or Adonis. She could see certain people playing, but it was hard to tell. Didn't someone a lot like her snap and kill a bunch of people last game? Gwen wasn't sure.
As she stood up, still in the closet, she hefted her hammer. "Uh, this is my weapon, and I'm a pacifist, like legitimately. So don't worry about me attacking you. Alex, right? How're you doing? Oh, sorry, don't mean to be so chatty, but I guess I'm coping or something?" A normal conversation, spiced with this bizarre situation, was so funny it nearly made her laugh. But that would be weird, so she didn't. Instead, she waited for Alex's response.
Hopefully she'd be willing to team up. Maybe they could hide out and wait for rescue? The guy said rescue was unlikely, but they weren't exactly going to tell them, "by the way none of you need to play because you'll all be rescued tomorrow." That'd make no sense.
"AAAAHHH! No, please don't kill me!" She squealed, curling inwards with her hands covering her head in the butterball position. She didn't want to die so soon! Not pitifully hiding in a closet like this. "Nooo...." Her voice trailed off as she looked back up at Alex.
"Uhm..." she said, staring at the other girl's face. "You...you aren't going to kill me, right?" Gwen knew she was overreacting and panicking and hyperventilating and other things, but she figured this was probably an overreaction considering Alex's normal disposition, as far as she knew.
"Sorry. I'm kind of stressed, buuut I guess that's sort of normal, given this scenario, right? Heh." She smiled, forcefully. It was a crappy smile, but Gwen didn't care. She was glad to find someone who wasn't likely to kill her, unlike say Brandon or Adonis. She could see certain people playing, but it was hard to tell. Didn't someone a lot like her snap and kill a bunch of people last game? Gwen wasn't sure.
As she stood up, still in the closet, she hefted her hammer. "Uh, this is my weapon, and I'm a pacifist, like legitimately. So don't worry about me attacking you. Alex, right? How're you doing? Oh, sorry, don't mean to be so chatty, but I guess I'm coping or something?" A normal conversation, spiced with this bizarre situation, was so funny it nearly made her laugh. But that would be weird, so she didn't. Instead, she waited for Alex's response.
Hopefully she'd be willing to team up. Maybe they could hide out and wait for rescue? The guy said rescue was unlikely, but they weren't exactly going to tell them, "by the way none of you need to play because you'll all be rescued tomorrow." That'd make no sense.
"Oh god oh god oh god oh god..."
((B074: Daniel Whitten, start.))
Daniel sat against the wall of the beacon at the top of the lighthouse, hugging his knees and quietly muttering to himself. "Not happening not happening not happening..." He was filled with an intense feeling of nausea. The first thing Daniel had done, when he had recovered enough from the drugs to move, was vomit off of the side of the lighthouse, leaning against the railing. The second thing was to collapse against the nearest solid surface he could find and begin panicking.
He'd been scared, of course, when he woke up bound to a chair. The true reality hadn't hit him until Mr. Davidge was shot in the head. Daniel shuddered. His memory of the event was hazy, but he remembered the blood, the screaming, the way the teacher had slumped over in his chair.
Suddenly hit by another extreme wave of nausea, Daniel weakly crawled over to the railing, hauling himself up in time to vomit again. His mouth was left with a disgusting, acidic taste. Daniel remained standing, limply holding on to the top of the railing. This was it, wasn't it? He was going to die. Everyone he knew and cared about was going to die. Michael, Rachael, Maynard... everyone.
Daniel would never be able to hurt any of his classmates, any of his friends. Just the thought of it was enough to almost make him throw up a third time. But... would they all have the same reservations? Would Daniel end up being killed by someone he liked? Someone he trusted?
I just... I just can't deal with this.
Unable to find the resolve to move, Daniel remained where he was, staring down at the world from the top of the lighthouse.
((B074: Daniel Whitten, start.))
Daniel sat against the wall of the beacon at the top of the lighthouse, hugging his knees and quietly muttering to himself. "Not happening not happening not happening..." He was filled with an intense feeling of nausea. The first thing Daniel had done, when he had recovered enough from the drugs to move, was vomit off of the side of the lighthouse, leaning against the railing. The second thing was to collapse against the nearest solid surface he could find and begin panicking.
He'd been scared, of course, when he woke up bound to a chair. The true reality hadn't hit him until Mr. Davidge was shot in the head. Daniel shuddered. His memory of the event was hazy, but he remembered the blood, the screaming, the way the teacher had slumped over in his chair.
Suddenly hit by another extreme wave of nausea, Daniel weakly crawled over to the railing, hauling himself up in time to vomit again. His mouth was left with a disgusting, acidic taste. Daniel remained standing, limply holding on to the top of the railing. This was it, wasn't it? He was going to die. Everyone he knew and cared about was going to die. Michael, Rachael, Maynard... everyone.
Daniel would never be able to hurt any of his classmates, any of his friends. Just the thought of it was enough to almost make him throw up a third time. But... would they all have the same reservations? Would Daniel end up being killed by someone he liked? Someone he trusted?
I just... I just can't deal with this.
Unable to find the resolve to move, Daniel remained where he was, staring down at the world from the top of the lighthouse.
Upon opening the closet door, the girl inside it had started screaming and curling up into a ball. Alex flinched at this. Of course she would flinch at this.
Before she could react to that more, though, the girl looked up, and started babbling. She was asking if she wanted to kill her? Well, the way things were going, most likely no. But she knew the girl. Gwen O'Connor. She was a goth, or something similar. Or at the least, she dressed like one. Alex didn't know her too well, but she seemed harmless. You never know, though.
She seemed really talkative and frantic. Alex stood there, watching her stand up and go on and on. Her weapon was a mallet of some kind, apparently. Alex tilted her head to the side as she waited for the girl to finish.
Once she stopped, Alex said "I won't kill you. Don't worry."
She smiled again, feeling the tension slightly drift away. Gwen was an innocent, by the look of things. Sure, this could be a set up for an ambush, but really. If anything, she was in there because she was scared, most likely.
Who could kill someone like that?
How was she? Well, she was... actually doing fine for someone who was recently abducted by terrorists, watched a teacher get shot in the head, and was recently asked to kill her classmates, as far as you can get in those circumstances at least. Sure, she was still a bit shaken up, but with the right planning-
Enough of that.
"I'm okay. At least, as far as you can get here", she tried to respond.
Her eyes examined Gwen. Would she know something?
Before she could react to that more, though, the girl looked up, and started babbling. She was asking if she wanted to kill her? Well, the way things were going, most likely no. But she knew the girl. Gwen O'Connor. She was a goth, or something similar. Or at the least, she dressed like one. Alex didn't know her too well, but she seemed harmless. You never know, though.
She seemed really talkative and frantic. Alex stood there, watching her stand up and go on and on. Her weapon was a mallet of some kind, apparently. Alex tilted her head to the side as she waited for the girl to finish.
Once she stopped, Alex said "I won't kill you. Don't worry."
She smiled again, feeling the tension slightly drift away. Gwen was an innocent, by the look of things. Sure, this could be a set up for an ambush, but really. If anything, she was in there because she was scared, most likely.
Who could kill someone like that?
How was she? Well, she was... actually doing fine for someone who was recently abducted by terrorists, watched a teacher get shot in the head, and was recently asked to kill her classmates, as far as you can get in those circumstances at least. Sure, she was still a bit shaken up, but with the right planning-
Enough of that.
"I'm okay. At least, as far as you can get here", she tried to respond.
Her eyes examined Gwen. Would she know something?
Oh, good.
Gwen felt bad about panicking and then overreacting, but it was sort of justified by the whole inevitable doom thing, right? Either way. At least Alex seemed friendly. Gwen nodded and smiled at the other girl. "Yeah, I guess "I'm okay" doesn't say much when you're the next contestant on this game." Gwen looked at Alex, trying to read her expression. She seemed relatively at ease, which made Gwen wonder if her crying-sobbing-breakdown made her look like the weird one.
Hmm. Were there cameras in that closet? Hopefully not. Gwen thought that might be embarrassing.
"So Alex. I've got a hammer. What did you get?" Gwen asked curiously. She wondered if Alex had a real weapon like a gun, a real but old weapon like a sword, or a crap weapon like this hammer. Gwen hoped it wasn't a gun; that'd just remind her of Mr. Davidge and all the blood and screaming and his lifeless corpse and
Gwen tensed up, her finger's grip on the mallet tightening, and she had to take a deep breath to keep from falling apart again. Oh, god that would be her it would be her it would be her. She'd be the lifeless corpse. God help her.
She smiled again at Alex; she didn't want to make the other girl uncomfortable with her panicking again. Alex seemed to be coping alright; why couldn't Gwen?
Best not think about it.
Gwen felt bad about panicking and then overreacting, but it was sort of justified by the whole inevitable doom thing, right? Either way. At least Alex seemed friendly. Gwen nodded and smiled at the other girl. "Yeah, I guess "I'm okay" doesn't say much when you're the next contestant on this game." Gwen looked at Alex, trying to read her expression. She seemed relatively at ease, which made Gwen wonder if her crying-sobbing-breakdown made her look like the weird one.
Hmm. Were there cameras in that closet? Hopefully not. Gwen thought that might be embarrassing.
"So Alex. I've got a hammer. What did you get?" Gwen asked curiously. She wondered if Alex had a real weapon like a gun, a real but old weapon like a sword, or a crap weapon like this hammer. Gwen hoped it wasn't a gun; that'd just remind her of Mr. Davidge and all the blood and screaming and his lifeless corpse and
Gwen tensed up, her finger's grip on the mallet tightening, and she had to take a deep breath to keep from falling apart again. Oh, god that would be her it would be her it would be her. She'd be the lifeless corpse. God help her.
She smiled again at Alex; she didn't want to make the other girl uncomfortable with her panicking again. Alex seemed to be coping alright; why couldn't Gwen?
Best not think about it.
Deep breaths, Daniel. Deep breaths.
A few minutes passed. As much as Daniel would like to, he couldn't spend the entire game cowering at the top of the lighthouse. He had to calm down, figure out what he was going to do. Make a plan, for whatever good it would do. He turned his attention to the black bag, which lay unzipped by the wall. A good a place to start as any.
...
Agh, no! They took my copy of American Gods! This is unforgivable! Wait, why is there a whip in here? An Indiana Jones Official Licensed one, at that? Man, I need to show this to Michael- oh. Yeah.
He'd almost forgotten. Michael'd almost always been there, recklessly charging headlong into life and dragging Daniel along with him. It felt incredibly bizarre to be separated, Michael being god knows where on the island. Daniel was worried. Michael could definitely handle himself, but as their captors had apparently confiscated all paper, he would have no way to communicate, the one thing that Michael hated the most.
I need to find him, and soon.
Rachael and Maynard, too, along with the rest of his book club. All of his friends. They could group together, figure something out. There would be safety in numbers, at least. Daniel slung the duffel bag over his shoulder, holding the whip in his left hand. You could do a lot of useful things with rope, after all. Still a bit pale, Daniel located the door and started walking down the long stairway.
As he drew closer to the second floor, Daniel began to hear voices, both female. No screaming, which was a good sign. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Daniel opened the door and walked into the living quarters, where he saw Gwen and Alex. A relief. They may not have been who he was looking for, but Daniel knew Alex from band, and though he didn't really know Gwen she seemed nice. They both appeared to be non-hostile, as well.
Daniel raised a hand in greeting. "Uh, hey, Alex, Gwen. Good to see the both of you. Not in these circumstances, of course, but. Um. Yeah." Eloquence was truly Daniel's best trait.
A few minutes passed. As much as Daniel would like to, he couldn't spend the entire game cowering at the top of the lighthouse. He had to calm down, figure out what he was going to do. Make a plan, for whatever good it would do. He turned his attention to the black bag, which lay unzipped by the wall. A good a place to start as any.
...
Agh, no! They took my copy of American Gods! This is unforgivable! Wait, why is there a whip in here? An Indiana Jones Official Licensed one, at that? Man, I need to show this to Michael- oh. Yeah.
He'd almost forgotten. Michael'd almost always been there, recklessly charging headlong into life and dragging Daniel along with him. It felt incredibly bizarre to be separated, Michael being god knows where on the island. Daniel was worried. Michael could definitely handle himself, but as their captors had apparently confiscated all paper, he would have no way to communicate, the one thing that Michael hated the most.
I need to find him, and soon.
Rachael and Maynard, too, along with the rest of his book club. All of his friends. They could group together, figure something out. There would be safety in numbers, at least. Daniel slung the duffel bag over his shoulder, holding the whip in his left hand. You could do a lot of useful things with rope, after all. Still a bit pale, Daniel located the door and started walking down the long stairway.
As he drew closer to the second floor, Daniel began to hear voices, both female. No screaming, which was a good sign. Reaching the bottom of the stairs, Daniel opened the door and walked into the living quarters, where he saw Gwen and Alex. A relief. They may not have been who he was looking for, but Daniel knew Alex from band, and though he didn't really know Gwen she seemed nice. They both appeared to be non-hostile, as well.
Daniel raised a hand in greeting. "Uh, hey, Alex, Gwen. Good to see the both of you. Not in these circumstances, of course, but. Um. Yeah." Eloquence was truly Daniel's best trait.
Gwen had asked what Alex had gotten.
A brief thought. She could just show her what she had gotten. Couldn't hurt, right? It would make her feel more comfortable to know that she didn't have anything immediately lethal on her. On the other, having a fan meant that she didn't have anything to use if something came up. Overall, it was probably a good idea to just show her.
"Lemme show you."
Alex went over to her bag, still resting near the foot of a bed. Gently unzipping it, she pulled out the fan. It was a nice fan, really; it was one of those hand-held electric fans. Judging by the shapes on the plastic blades, it would light up and make a pattern as the blades moved. Alex actually had one of those back home, and she couldn't help but be reminded of it. Overall, she had to admit; it was a nice fan.
"I got this."
As she rose, she raised her arm out to show Gwen the fan.
It was probably a good idea to tell her what she had planned, right? Well, nothing was concrete yet; Alex had no idea how something could be done. She wasn't particularly good with technology. In addition, they would have to move fast if they wanted not to have their ideas blow up in their faces.
Would Gwen be up for that sort of thing, though?
Just as the thought entered her head, the door opened, and Alex felt herself tense up again. She turned her head, seeing-
Daniel.
That wasn't someone she saw killing people. They knew each other from band, of course; both of them had played woodwinds, though Alex on her sax and Daniel on his flute. So naturally, they knew each other. Daniel, from what she knew of him, was a nice kid.
The tenseness was gone again.
"Hey Daniel", she waved with her free hand. "Things holding up okay?"
A brief thought. She could just show her what she had gotten. Couldn't hurt, right? It would make her feel more comfortable to know that she didn't have anything immediately lethal on her. On the other, having a fan meant that she didn't have anything to use if something came up. Overall, it was probably a good idea to just show her.
"Lemme show you."
Alex went over to her bag, still resting near the foot of a bed. Gently unzipping it, she pulled out the fan. It was a nice fan, really; it was one of those hand-held electric fans. Judging by the shapes on the plastic blades, it would light up and make a pattern as the blades moved. Alex actually had one of those back home, and she couldn't help but be reminded of it. Overall, she had to admit; it was a nice fan.
"I got this."
As she rose, she raised her arm out to show Gwen the fan.
It was probably a good idea to tell her what she had planned, right? Well, nothing was concrete yet; Alex had no idea how something could be done. She wasn't particularly good with technology. In addition, they would have to move fast if they wanted not to have their ideas blow up in their faces.
Would Gwen be up for that sort of thing, though?
Just as the thought entered her head, the door opened, and Alex felt herself tense up again. She turned her head, seeing-
Daniel.
That wasn't someone she saw killing people. They knew each other from band, of course; both of them had played woodwinds, though Alex on her sax and Daniel on his flute. So naturally, they knew each other. Daniel, from what she knew of him, was a nice kid.
The tenseness was gone again.
"Hey Daniel", she waved with her free hand. "Things holding up okay?"
"Oh!"
Gwen let out a tiny little gasp as Daniel came into the room. She didn't know him very well, and he caught her off-guard. She froze up as soon as he came in; for a split second, he might've attacked, and Gwen wasn't sure if she'd have been willing to defend herself. Would there be a point? Would fighting back keep her alive just to suffer and feel terrible and die anyways?
But luckily she could push it to the side; Daniel and Alex knew each other, so unless they went Bonnie and Clyde on her then she was likely fine. Gwen sighed in relief, albeit quietly; she was so not cut out for this. Gwen felt the pressure build up in her chest again. She took a deep breath. This probably wasn't important to her, but these two seemed to be friends, so it was likely good they managed to meet up again.
Unfortunately, suddenly she realized something.
"Maynard." She said quietly, as his face came into her mind. Maynard, the nice friendly boy who was so small and cute. He had no chance. Maddie, and Venice, and a bunch of other people were all trapped here. Gwen wanted to find them, and see them one last time before....
Gwen didn't know. She just didn't.
"Guys, I need to find my friends. Sorry, but I need to make sure they're okay." Gwen smiled, nervously. She slowly moved past the other two victims students and started going out the door, leaving her worthless weapon in the doorframe. Maybe the other two might need it, but she certainly didn't. This was worst-case-scenario for her; she had no ability to fight, run, escape or anything. She was helpless, she realized, until someone murdered her.
Gwen let out a tiny little gasp as Daniel came into the room. She didn't know him very well, and he caught her off-guard. She froze up as soon as he came in; for a split second, he might've attacked, and Gwen wasn't sure if she'd have been willing to defend herself. Would there be a point? Would fighting back keep her alive just to suffer and feel terrible and die anyways?
But luckily she could push it to the side; Daniel and Alex knew each other, so unless they went Bonnie and Clyde on her then she was likely fine. Gwen sighed in relief, albeit quietly; she was so not cut out for this. Gwen felt the pressure build up in her chest again. She took a deep breath. This probably wasn't important to her, but these two seemed to be friends, so it was likely good they managed to meet up again.
Unfortunately, suddenly she realized something.
"Maynard." She said quietly, as his face came into her mind. Maynard, the nice friendly boy who was so small and cute. He had no chance. Maddie, and Venice, and a bunch of other people were all trapped here. Gwen wanted to find them, and see them one last time before....
Gwen didn't know. She just didn't.
"Guys, I need to find my friends. Sorry, but I need to make sure they're okay." Gwen smiled, nervously. She slowly moved past the other two victims students and started going out the door, leaving her worthless weapon in the doorframe. Maybe the other two might need it, but she certainly didn't. This was worst-case-scenario for her; she had no ability to fight, run, escape or anything. She was helpless, she realized, until someone murdered her.
"Things are going about as well as they can be at the moment, Alex." Daniel said, smiling slightly. "It would quite a stretch to refer to it as "okay", but I, uh, guess the term will do for now." No need to mention the better part of an hour spent flipping out and vomiting up the entire contents of his stomach. Not dignified in the slightest. Daniel was then caught by surprise as he heard Gwen say Maynard's name.
Huh. She knows him?
It was news to Daniel. He shrugged mentally. Didn't really matter that much, anyway. What did matter, though, was that Gwen then tried to slip out of the room. "Er, hang on, please!" Daniel called out as she walked past him.
"You aren't trying to go out by yourself, are you?" He frowned. "Look, I am not going to force you to stay here or anything if you don't want to, but I don't really think that's such a good idea. You're looking for Maynard, correct? He's my friend, too. We could team up, look for him together. I still need to find Michael, and I'm sure Alex has got people she needs to find as well."
Daniel paused for breath, taking a moment to collect his thoughts. "There is safety in numbers. All of us are presumably sane, chill dudes, from what I can tell, none of us have deadly weapons," he held up his whip to illustrate his point, "And I am pretty sure none of us are looking to hurt anyone. Could you think about it, at least?"
Safety in numbers was a large part of his reasoning, of course, but mostly, Daniel just didn't want to be left alone. He felt more comfortable in groups, content to let Michael lead the way for him. Being by himself was disconcerting.
Huh. She knows him?
It was news to Daniel. He shrugged mentally. Didn't really matter that much, anyway. What did matter, though, was that Gwen then tried to slip out of the room. "Er, hang on, please!" Daniel called out as she walked past him.
"You aren't trying to go out by yourself, are you?" He frowned. "Look, I am not going to force you to stay here or anything if you don't want to, but I don't really think that's such a good idea. You're looking for Maynard, correct? He's my friend, too. We could team up, look for him together. I still need to find Michael, and I'm sure Alex has got people she needs to find as well."
Daniel paused for breath, taking a moment to collect his thoughts. "There is safety in numbers. All of us are presumably sane, chill dudes, from what I can tell, none of us have deadly weapons," he held up his whip to illustrate his point, "And I am pretty sure none of us are looking to hurt anyone. Could you think about it, at least?"
Safety in numbers was a large part of his reasoning, of course, but mostly, Daniel just didn't want to be left alone. He felt more comfortable in groups, content to let Michael lead the way for him. Being by himself was disconcerting.
Alex smiled back at Daniel. Things were going as well as they could be, at least, they would be here. The tenseness had almost completely evaporated from Alex.
But Gwen said something, as if she just remembered a thing she had forgotten.
"Maynard?"
The name rang a bell. Maynard... must have been a friend of hers, right? Wasn't he in the Anime Club or something, from what she had heard? Again, the name sounded familiar, but she wasn't able to figure out whose face to connect it to.
Then Gwen started to leave.
"Hey, wait-"
Alex rose her free hand as Gwen walked towards the door.
She couldn't leave, could she? There were all sorts of people out there! And it wasn't as if they couldn't help her find him!
Daniel had vocalized her thoughts exactly. But...
She hadn't thought of people that had come with them, who were friends of hers. Kyran had come. So did Sean and Claire. Grey and Corey, too. A good portion of the senior class had shown up.
It only emphasized the urgency of the situation.
"Daniel's right", she said. "We could help you find him, if you'd like? And I'm..."
Might as well spit it out.
"Look. We have to find a way off this island. I don't know how it's possible. But I know it's possible."
She felt a little ridiculous saying that. But it was true, wasn't it?
But Gwen said something, as if she just remembered a thing she had forgotten.
"Maynard?"
The name rang a bell. Maynard... must have been a friend of hers, right? Wasn't he in the Anime Club or something, from what she had heard? Again, the name sounded familiar, but she wasn't able to figure out whose face to connect it to.
Then Gwen started to leave.
"Hey, wait-"
Alex rose her free hand as Gwen walked towards the door.
She couldn't leave, could she? There were all sorts of people out there! And it wasn't as if they couldn't help her find him!
Daniel had vocalized her thoughts exactly. But...
She hadn't thought of people that had come with them, who were friends of hers. Kyran had come. So did Sean and Claire. Grey and Corey, too. A good portion of the senior class had shown up.
It only emphasized the urgency of the situation.
"Daniel's right", she said. "We could help you find him, if you'd like? And I'm..."
Might as well spit it out.
"Look. We have to find a way off this island. I don't know how it's possible. But I know it's possible."
She felt a little ridiculous saying that. But it was true, wasn't it?
Hmm.
This was a tough decision.
Gwen wasn't sure how to respond to their pleas. She stood in the doorway of the bedroom, frozen momentarily with indecision like a river in winter. On one hand, safety was indeed located in numbers. On the other hand, she wasn't sure she wanted to get attached to these two. Gwen was sure there was no escape; if the terrorists knew anything, they knew they couldn't let the students escape again, or people would never play.
That meant the only escape was death. Gwen was scared of dying, presumably because she tied herself to no particular religion and thus didn't have any strong belief in the afterlife. She didn't want to just...not exist anymore. That wouldn't be a good thing, definitely not. But for now, she needed to quit thinking about bad things and find some good things like Maynard.
So Gwen smiled, shook her head, and told the other two, "Sorry, but I think I'll be okay alone. You two be safe!"
And she left, walking out into the sunlight.
She could only hope that Maynard and her other friends would be safe.
[[Gwen O'Connor's story continues in Ave Imperator, Morituri Te Salutant]]
This was a tough decision.
Gwen wasn't sure how to respond to their pleas. She stood in the doorway of the bedroom, frozen momentarily with indecision like a river in winter. On one hand, safety was indeed located in numbers. On the other hand, she wasn't sure she wanted to get attached to these two. Gwen was sure there was no escape; if the terrorists knew anything, they knew they couldn't let the students escape again, or people would never play.
That meant the only escape was death. Gwen was scared of dying, presumably because she tied herself to no particular religion and thus didn't have any strong belief in the afterlife. She didn't want to just...not exist anymore. That wouldn't be a good thing, definitely not. But for now, she needed to quit thinking about bad things and find some good things like Maynard.
So Gwen smiled, shook her head, and told the other two, "Sorry, but I think I'll be okay alone. You two be safe!"
And she left, walking out into the sunlight.
She could only hope that Maynard and her other friends would be safe.
[[Gwen O'Connor's story continues in Ave Imperator, Morituri Te Salutant]]
"You be safe, too!" Daniel called to Gwen as she walked out the door. It was a shame that his attempts at persuasion had failed, but there really wasn't much he could do if Gwen wanted to set off on her own.
Shrugging, he turned back to Alex. "So, uh, I guess it's just me and you, now? If you're okay with grouping up, I mean." Daniel hoped that she would agree. Alex was pleasant company, and he felt that he knew her well enough to put his trust in her.
Daniel nodded as Alex mentioned the possibility of making it off the island. "People escaped last time, so there must be some way out, right? There must be something the terrorist guys overlooked." Daniel refused to accept that the only way to survive was to kill his classmates, his friends. There had to be a way. He had absolutely no idea where to even begin, but still.
"So, I guess the plan at the moment is group up, find our friends, then work together to escape this wretched place?"
Shrugging, he turned back to Alex. "So, uh, I guess it's just me and you, now? If you're okay with grouping up, I mean." Daniel hoped that she would agree. Alex was pleasant company, and he felt that he knew her well enough to put his trust in her.
Daniel nodded as Alex mentioned the possibility of making it off the island. "People escaped last time, so there must be some way out, right? There must be something the terrorist guys overlooked." Daniel refused to accept that the only way to survive was to kill his classmates, his friends. There had to be a way. He had absolutely no idea where to even begin, but still.
"So, I guess the plan at the moment is group up, find our friends, then work together to escape this wretched place?"
Alex bit her lip.
She was so sure that she would be safe out there. Would she? Was somebody going psycho killer already? Based off what she knew, people had already started killing the first day last time. The names Ishida and Hartman came to mind. She wasn't necessarily an expert on SOTF stuff, but she remembered some things from some of the books she read and the lectures she had taken on the topic of terrorism. And what if someone was already as bad as Lombardi?
There was a statistic she heard once. Somewhere around one to four percent of the population estimated, it is said, that show tendencies of sociopathy. Which didn't seem like much at first when she had heard of it on a website, until she really thought of it. There was a good chance of running into one.
Which meant that in a class of somewhere upwards of 100, the possibilities were pretty good that someone, out there, had already decided to start killing and wasn't even thinking of the moral consequences.
As she wrestled with the idea of stopping her or let her go, it was too late. Gwen was already out the door.
She was still unsure whether or not it was right to let her go. What if someone attacked her? What then?
Daniel started talking again, and Alex visibly jumped out of her thoughts.
"Oh, right."
Escape was indeed possible. As he said, there was probably something out there that they missed. Even the most foolproof of systems had a loophole, or a situation that they didn't expect.
In spite of her concern over Gwen, she smiled again.
"I think that would be a good idea, yes."
She looked around her, seeing a camera's red light briefly.
"They're going to tighten things up a bit, so we'll have to be quick if we're planning anything."
She was so sure that she would be safe out there. Would she? Was somebody going psycho killer already? Based off what she knew, people had already started killing the first day last time. The names Ishida and Hartman came to mind. She wasn't necessarily an expert on SOTF stuff, but she remembered some things from some of the books she read and the lectures she had taken on the topic of terrorism. And what if someone was already as bad as Lombardi?
There was a statistic she heard once. Somewhere around one to four percent of the population estimated, it is said, that show tendencies of sociopathy. Which didn't seem like much at first when she had heard of it on a website, until she really thought of it. There was a good chance of running into one.
Which meant that in a class of somewhere upwards of 100, the possibilities were pretty good that someone, out there, had already decided to start killing and wasn't even thinking of the moral consequences.
As she wrestled with the idea of stopping her or let her go, it was too late. Gwen was already out the door.
She was still unsure whether or not it was right to let her go. What if someone attacked her? What then?
Daniel started talking again, and Alex visibly jumped out of her thoughts.
"Oh, right."
Escape was indeed possible. As he said, there was probably something out there that they missed. Even the most foolproof of systems had a loophole, or a situation that they didn't expect.
In spite of her concern over Gwen, she smiled again.
"I think that would be a good idea, yes."
She looked around her, seeing a camera's red light briefly.
"They're going to tighten things up a bit, so we'll have to be quick if we're planning anything."