It was a bad night. It was a bad week. Dolly hadn’t slept well since at least the weekend before last.
Here she was, driving home much closer to midnight than anyone anticipated, and hadn’t she been here before?
She dreaded getting home and trying to go to sleep.
The night terrors resurfaced only rarely these days, but when they came, they came with a vengeance. Dolly had arranged her bedroom and gotten into the habit of sleeping in such a position that she would only see the wall if she woke in the middle of the night, unable to move. The hallway, bathroom, and closet doors couldn’t be trusted. If they were open, things came in. If they were closed, things sat on the other side and scratched at the wood.
She had tried turning so that she faced the window, and that had actually worked for quite a while. One night though, Dolly woke up, and she’d had no choice but to lay frozen with her cheek pressed into the pillow, staring out the window and each and every eye in the tree outside staring back at her.
It was after that that she pushed her bed into the corner and trained herself to sleep on her side, facing the wall. The fewer things that she saw when she woke, the better. They were easier to ignore if they were reduced to raspy breathing in her ear and shadows on the wall. It was better all around if they were less likely to notice her noticing them.
The weekend before last, Dolly had awoken in the night. She had realized, as she stared at the wall and felt her body refusing to respond to any attempts at movement, that she had forgotten to close her curtains before going to bed. Light from the streetlamps outside and the occasional car rolling by shone into her bedroom and slanted over the wall, clearly defining the figure of someone – something – standing at her bedside.
All she saw was its shadow. It looked human. It looked familiar. She wanted to reach out to it, but she couldn’t.
And Dolly lay like that until morning, as the thing stood at her bedside and cried and cried, and all she could do was watch.
She hadn’t slept at all the next night and hadn’t slept soundly in the week or so since. The sleep paralysis hadn’t recurred in that time, and Dolly knew from experience that her skittishness would fade. Waiting it out was an ordeal, but it would pass. In the meantime, though, she would be tired and on-edge, and had little to look forward to each night besides passing the hours silently repeating that the things she saw were not real and could not harm her until either she could finally fall asleep or morning came.
Dolly glanced in the rearview mirror. There was nobody back there, real or imagined. Dolly was always careful about checking the back seat before she got into the car.
In the few seconds that Dolly’s eyes were on the mirror instead of the road, she failed to notice the dog.
She caught the flash of movement in her peripheral vision and slammed on the brakes before she had even fully turned her attention back to the shape in the headlights. Too late.
Thump.
A minute passed, then two, and no animal limped away from the car that Dolly could see. Hands shaking, regret forming a lump in her throat, she unbuckled her seatbelt and opened the car door to step outside. She started shivering as soon as she moved from the car’s warmth to the chill late-autumn air and wrapped her arms around herself as she walked around to the front of the car to squat by the tire and survey things.
There was a dark, shiny smear on the front bumper of the car, and a ragged shape just behind the front tires. Biting the inside of her lips, Dolly leaned closer to check for any breathing. As she did so, the dog’s head twisted around to look at her, and its eyes were clear, intelligent.
Dolly stared, and the dog stared back, and then it twisted further, writhing out from underneath the car, and no matter how it moved, its eyes stayed fixed on her.
Once it was free of the car, the dog rose onto its hind legs and ran, bipedal, into the treeline at the side of the road and vanished from sight.
All around, there was a roaring. Dolly’s eyelids fluttered, but did not open. Her cheek was pressed to cool stone.
One arm lay folded over her chest, her hand curled around the handle of the knife. How had it gotten there? She didn’t remember.
There was nothing there. She was alone.
And I saw, from eyes that were not mine. And I felt, with a fear I could not reason.
They watch us, they invade us. And keep us happy, committing treason. For a King we didn't deserve. For a Son who waits weeping. That I knew, from knowledge gained while sleeping.
And I saw, from eyes that were not mine. And I felt, with a fear I could not reason.
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
"MOTHER FUCKING SON OF A BITCH!"
Ariana's voice thundered through the cave, followed by a frustrated scream. It was dark, she didn't know where she was, but she knew exactly what had happened, and her barely-contained rage was doing a piss-poor job of barely-containing itself. This was hell. This was utter, barbaric hell, and the only thing Ariana Moretti could think to do was to kick rocks.
And yell.
So she did.
((ARIANA MORETTI SOTF V7 START))
When she'd come to, there'd only been a sliver of light to guide her either further in or out of the cave. Her head had been resting on a duffel bag - of which the fuckers had obviously given her, and she'd rattled around to find the flashlight within. But after a few minutes of wandering, it was very evident to her that she was lost.
She was lost, and she was dead. They were all already dead. Barely days ago she had vowed to her roommates that she'd help take SOTF down. She'd stood at the memorial and looked at the names of people like Kyle Rizea and Tanesha Lexx who'd died while on an island, very much like this one. She'd seen the names of others; Michael Moretti, Kimberley Nguyen, Min-jae Parker, who'd escaped.
She'd seen the name of Adam Dodd, with that goddamned asterisk. He'd gotten out, and they'd gotten him again.
"FUCK!"
So what was the plan? What was the point of any of it. She could still take them down, but how. From the inside? Ariana's mind was so fed up, so angry that she could barely come up with any kind of a plan at all. She listened to her voice echo away inside of the caves, angrily pointing the flashlight anywhere it could go. Anywhere to find a way out of here. Did she need to go north, or east? Up, or down? She wasn't much for wandering around in the fucking mountains, or the caves, so-
"Oh!"
The flashlight had come upon a form, prone on the floor of the cave. With some trepidation, Ariana slowly let the light wash over the body. The chest rose and fall.
It was Dolly. A part of her was relieved, another was pensive. Who could she really trust right now? Ross, but - oh my God, Ross. She purged the thought immediately. She would think about that later. Right now, there was more important things to concern herself with.
Staying alive, for instance.
"Dolly, are you okay? It's Ariana." Her voice was hoarse from the yelling. "Where the fuck are we?"
She was sure that he girl likely knew as much as she did, but for now, staying as normal as she could seemed the way to go.
Ariana's voice thundered through the cave, followed by a frustrated scream. It was dark, she didn't know where she was, but she knew exactly what had happened, and her barely-contained rage was doing a piss-poor job of barely-containing itself. This was hell. This was utter, barbaric hell, and the only thing Ariana Moretti could think to do was to kick rocks.
And yell.
So she did.
((ARIANA MORETTI SOTF V7 START))
When she'd come to, there'd only been a sliver of light to guide her either further in or out of the cave. Her head had been resting on a duffel bag - of which the fuckers had obviously given her, and she'd rattled around to find the flashlight within. But after a few minutes of wandering, it was very evident to her that she was lost.
She was lost, and she was dead. They were all already dead. Barely days ago she had vowed to her roommates that she'd help take SOTF down. She'd stood at the memorial and looked at the names of people like Kyle Rizea and Tanesha Lexx who'd died while on an island, very much like this one. She'd seen the names of others; Michael Moretti, Kimberley Nguyen, Min-jae Parker, who'd escaped.
She'd seen the name of Adam Dodd, with that goddamned asterisk. He'd gotten out, and they'd gotten him again.
"FUCK!"
So what was the plan? What was the point of any of it. She could still take them down, but how. From the inside? Ariana's mind was so fed up, so angry that she could barely come up with any kind of a plan at all. She listened to her voice echo away inside of the caves, angrily pointing the flashlight anywhere it could go. Anywhere to find a way out of here. Did she need to go north, or east? Up, or down? She wasn't much for wandering around in the fucking mountains, or the caves, so-
"Oh!"
The flashlight had come upon a form, prone on the floor of the cave. With some trepidation, Ariana slowly let the light wash over the body. The chest rose and fall.
It was Dolly. A part of her was relieved, another was pensive. Who could she really trust right now? Ross, but - oh my God, Ross. She purged the thought immediately. She would think about that later. Right now, there was more important things to concern herself with.
Staying alive, for instance.
"Dolly, are you okay? It's Ariana." Her voice was hoarse from the yelling. "Where the fuck are we?"
She was sure that he girl likely knew as much as she did, but for now, staying as normal as she could seemed the way to go.
((B015 Emeka "Meka" Gibson: Start))
It was only upon seeing the broken bow on top of his bag that Emeka Gibson understood perfectly how doomed he was.
After what had been an incredible vacation in the nation's capitol, Meka was prepared to go home and focus on starting his Fall at Duke. He had spent most of the bus trip working on some more poetry when everything fell apart, and by the time he could get his mind straight, he was now waking up on an island somewhere with a bomb around his neck and the understanding that his life was probably going to end really soon.
He had reasons to be optimistic. There was that rescue ten years ago. Another could happen. He could potentially survive by making the right choices. It would mean knowing that all his friends and peers were dead, but it would mean his life could go on. He could seize the opportunity to make some real change with his life, more than that worthless stooge Canon could do for this country.
And yet, when he saw the broken hunting bow perched on top of his bag, he realized that it wasn't likely he would survive. He would die, have his name put on that memorial he never got around to visiting in DC, and that would be it. His work may live on through the internet, but that was the end of his potential, of his hopes, of his ideas, and of his chances to mean something to humankind.
"Ok. Guess I better find a good use of the time I have."
Meka grabbed both of the bags and swung them over his shoulders. He had woken up lying near a waterfall, so his jacket and face were a bit damp. He'd have to find shelter and dry off. He could search the bags once he was in a more secure place. He picked up both pieces of the bow. He weighed them both in his hands and sighed. It wasn't going to be much for defense, but he could work on them later.
Meka put one of the bow pieces in his jacket pocket. He took the part that didn't have a string dangling from it and held it tightly in his hands. It'd have to do for now, but at the very least it meant people might stay away from him.
It was then he heard some very loud cursing. Meka looked around and realized that there was something near the waterfall. It looked like a path near some fern bushes. He moved a bit closer and heard more cursing.
"Hello?" he called out.
Meka stepped past the ferns and realized there was a cave behind the waterfall. Of course there would be. Still, it sounded like someone was in trouble. He couldn't see anyone, but figured there had to be at least one person inside. If he was going to die, he could at least try to help someone before it happened.
It was only upon seeing the broken bow on top of his bag that Emeka Gibson understood perfectly how doomed he was.
After what had been an incredible vacation in the nation's capitol, Meka was prepared to go home and focus on starting his Fall at Duke. He had spent most of the bus trip working on some more poetry when everything fell apart, and by the time he could get his mind straight, he was now waking up on an island somewhere with a bomb around his neck and the understanding that his life was probably going to end really soon.
He had reasons to be optimistic. There was that rescue ten years ago. Another could happen. He could potentially survive by making the right choices. It would mean knowing that all his friends and peers were dead, but it would mean his life could go on. He could seize the opportunity to make some real change with his life, more than that worthless stooge Canon could do for this country.
And yet, when he saw the broken hunting bow perched on top of his bag, he realized that it wasn't likely he would survive. He would die, have his name put on that memorial he never got around to visiting in DC, and that would be it. His work may live on through the internet, but that was the end of his potential, of his hopes, of his ideas, and of his chances to mean something to humankind.
"Ok. Guess I better find a good use of the time I have."
Meka grabbed both of the bags and swung them over his shoulders. He had woken up lying near a waterfall, so his jacket and face were a bit damp. He'd have to find shelter and dry off. He could search the bags once he was in a more secure place. He picked up both pieces of the bow. He weighed them both in his hands and sighed. It wasn't going to be much for defense, but he could work on them later.
Meka put one of the bow pieces in his jacket pocket. He took the part that didn't have a string dangling from it and held it tightly in his hands. It'd have to do for now, but at the very least it meant people might stay away from him.
It was then he heard some very loud cursing. Meka looked around and realized that there was something near the waterfall. It looked like a path near some fern bushes. He moved a bit closer and heard more cursing.
"Hello?" he called out.
Meka stepped past the ferns and realized there was a cave behind the waterfall. Of course there would be. Still, it sounded like someone was in trouble. He couldn't see anyone, but figured there had to be at least one person inside. If he was going to die, he could at least try to help someone before it happened.
No longer alone.
Dolly's eyes cracked open. In one direction, light. A silhouette. Familiar. Human.
The voices came to her from far away, echoing and warbling into nonsense before they reached her.
With a groan, Dolly closed her eyes again and slowly, ponderously rolled onto her side, smoothing her cheek once more against the stone floor. Her right arm stretched out above her head; her left stayed clutched to her chest.
She'd... mm, yes. She must have picked up the knife, opened whatever she had been given and found it, but those moments in time were a gray blank spot in her memory.
"...Who?"
Dolly's voice was hoarse and the word came out with great effort. It was drowned out by the pounding echoes of the water anyway.
Dolly's eyes cracked open. In one direction, light. A silhouette. Familiar. Human.
The voices came to her from far away, echoing and warbling into nonsense before they reached her.
With a groan, Dolly closed her eyes again and slowly, ponderously rolled onto her side, smoothing her cheek once more against the stone floor. Her right arm stretched out above her head; her left stayed clutched to her chest.
She'd... mm, yes. She must have picked up the knife, opened whatever she had been given and found it, but those moments in time were a gray blank spot in her memory.
"...Who?"
Dolly's voice was hoarse and the word came out with great effort. It was drowned out by the pounding echoes of the water anyway.
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
((G033 Rhonda Lawson: Start))
Thunder. Blood and thunder.
Darkness and fog. An explosion. Blood. More fog. And now the storm was back.
Rhonda had always slept well in the company of rain outside. She'd awoken, maybe, in the dark and cold and damp, but disoriented and woozy, the sound of water had lulled her back to a more natural sleep, not one induced by drugs.
The sound of screaming pierced that cover and sent her bolt upright, gasping out a slurred, "Wha?" The room was dark. It was a cave, actually, not a room. Rhonda rubbed her eyes, shifting uncomfortably on the stone and the lumpy object pressed against her back. She looked around, confused. There was Ariana, she looked angry, and another girl on the floor closer to the entrance, oh, it was Dolly. Rhonda recognized the outfit. She was interesting, she liked some of those horrible historical murders and her fashion sense was very different but it was nice that they liked some of the same things, even if they were different parts. What were they-
Rhonda gasped, loudly. Her hands covered her mouth, more in shock than anything. Terrorists. Death. Screaming and murder. The cameras. Anyone on Earth would be able to watch her die.
Rhonda exhaled and then sobbed, a loud, ugly wheezing noise. Then she did it again, and again, her condensation-dampened face suddenly running with fresh, warm water.
Thunder. Blood and thunder.
Darkness and fog. An explosion. Blood. More fog. And now the storm was back.
Rhonda had always slept well in the company of rain outside. She'd awoken, maybe, in the dark and cold and damp, but disoriented and woozy, the sound of water had lulled her back to a more natural sleep, not one induced by drugs.
The sound of screaming pierced that cover and sent her bolt upright, gasping out a slurred, "Wha?" The room was dark. It was a cave, actually, not a room. Rhonda rubbed her eyes, shifting uncomfortably on the stone and the lumpy object pressed against her back. She looked around, confused. There was Ariana, she looked angry, and another girl on the floor closer to the entrance, oh, it was Dolly. Rhonda recognized the outfit. She was interesting, she liked some of those horrible historical murders and her fashion sense was very different but it was nice that they liked some of the same things, even if they were different parts. What were they-
Rhonda gasped, loudly. Her hands covered her mouth, more in shock than anything. Terrorists. Death. Screaming and murder. The cameras. Anyone on Earth would be able to watch her die.
Rhonda exhaled and then sobbed, a loud, ugly wheezing noise. Then she did it again, and again, her condensation-dampened face suddenly running with fresh, warm water.
Straining her ears against the thundering sound coming from - well, everywhere at once, Ariana used her powers of vocal projection to try and cut through it. Dolly was stirring, and she thought she saw the girl's mouth move. Being inside of this cave was disorienting as hell, what with the darkness and the noise, and if she wanted to get out of here, she would probably need help to do it.
"It's me," she boomed, "Ariana Moretti!"
Glancing around with the flashlight, she saw a few different small passageways, including the one she came from. If they were like the chamber she awoke within, they probably weren't overly long but easy to get lost in. This seemed to be a central sort of room, with what looked like strange markings on the wall and an opening that was overpowered by the sound of falling water.. Was this some sort of ancient place of worship, or caveman sanctuary? Ariana didn't know shit about any of that history, but if people had been in here to draw those things on the walls, there had to be an exit somewhere. Aiming the flashlight back at Dolly, she moved closer to the girl, switched the light into her left hand and pointed the light source away from the girl's eyes, casting a wider berth over the cave.
It was then that she saw the knife in Dolly's hand.
Biting her tongue, Ariana crouched down and slowly extended a hand.
"Are you okay?" She repeated her question, once again calling on the powers of her loud, Italian ancestors to cut through the cacophony that surrounded them.
"It's me," she boomed, "Ariana Moretti!"
Glancing around with the flashlight, she saw a few different small passageways, including the one she came from. If they were like the chamber she awoke within, they probably weren't overly long but easy to get lost in. This seemed to be a central sort of room, with what looked like strange markings on the wall and an opening that was overpowered by the sound of falling water.. Was this some sort of ancient place of worship, or caveman sanctuary? Ariana didn't know shit about any of that history, but if people had been in here to draw those things on the walls, there had to be an exit somewhere. Aiming the flashlight back at Dolly, she moved closer to the girl, switched the light into her left hand and pointed the light source away from the girl's eyes, casting a wider berth over the cave.
It was then that she saw the knife in Dolly's hand.
Biting her tongue, Ariana crouched down and slowly extended a hand.
"Are you okay?" She repeated her question, once again calling on the powers of her loud, Italian ancestors to cut through the cacophony that surrounded them.
Meka moved closer to the mouth of the cave. Admittedly, it was kind of cool to be looking into the maw of a waterfall cave. He had never gone spelunking nor had he ever toured a cavernous system or anything similar, despite the proximity to the Appalachians. He'd appreciate it more if he wasn't part of a terrorist abduction, but he knew there was more to focus on at that point.
Meka was now behind the waterfall and facing into the cave. He was sure there were more people inside than he realized. The screamer sounded like a girl, but he wasn't sure what to think. The game would want him to think this was someone who could and would kill him, but he didn't want to think like that. He wanted to be better, so he had to act better.
It then occurred to Meka that whoever was screaming inside may be lost inside the dark cave. Meka pocketed the other half of the bow in his other pocket and moved the bags over. He started by searching through the one with B015 printed on it. It looked to be the basic supplies they were promised. He soon found something familiar. He pulled out the flashlight and clicked it on. Perfect. Now he had light.
Meka zipped up the bag and moved them out of the way. He took the half-bow back and kept it in his other hand. With the flashlight on, he then began waving it around, keeping the light facing the cave, but moving side-to-side.
"Hello? Anyone in there?" he called out. "The cave exit is over here!"
He really hoped this wasn't a bad idea. The last real brush with darkness ended with Paloma hitting him with a flashlight in an abandoned building. Surely whoever was in the cave wouldn't react with violence.
Meka was now behind the waterfall and facing into the cave. He was sure there were more people inside than he realized. The screamer sounded like a girl, but he wasn't sure what to think. The game would want him to think this was someone who could and would kill him, but he didn't want to think like that. He wanted to be better, so he had to act better.
It then occurred to Meka that whoever was screaming inside may be lost inside the dark cave. Meka pocketed the other half of the bow in his other pocket and moved the bags over. He started by searching through the one with B015 printed on it. It looked to be the basic supplies they were promised. He soon found something familiar. He pulled out the flashlight and clicked it on. Perfect. Now he had light.
Meka zipped up the bag and moved them out of the way. He took the half-bow back and kept it in his other hand. With the flashlight on, he then began waving it around, keeping the light facing the cave, but moving side-to-side.
"Hello? Anyone in there?" he called out. "The cave exit is over here!"
He really hoped this wasn't a bad idea. The last real brush with darkness ended with Paloma hitting him with a flashlight in an abandoned building. Surely whoever was in the cave wouldn't react with violence.
Dolly would have flinched at Ariana's booming voice had her reflexes been sharp enough. As it was, she just twitched a second or two after the fact.
When she opened her eyes again, Ariana was crouched in front of her, one hand outstretched. Asking, was she okay?
Dolly had always thought - well, not always, but for a good while - that the basis of human nature was not evil, but just... nature. Something feral, something that didn't think about consequences as long as it could fulfill its basic needs. Humans, because they had the capacity to give this base instinct a name, could call it selfish and evil. When you thought about it that way, everyone had the potential to become a monster.
Dolly had always hoped that she, at least, was the kind of monster that could overcome its nature and choose not to devour others.
Sluggishly, she lifted her free hand and reached for Ariana's with it. "I'm sorry," she mumbled.
There were other noises, other voices filtering in. "I'm not... awake yet," Dolly said, to Ariana, to the others, to the people watching, and to herself.
When she opened her eyes again, Ariana was crouched in front of her, one hand outstretched. Asking, was she okay?
Dolly had always thought - well, not always, but for a good while - that the basis of human nature was not evil, but just... nature. Something feral, something that didn't think about consequences as long as it could fulfill its basic needs. Humans, because they had the capacity to give this base instinct a name, could call it selfish and evil. When you thought about it that way, everyone had the potential to become a monster.
Dolly had always hoped that she, at least, was the kind of monster that could overcome its nature and choose not to devour others.
Sluggishly, she lifted her free hand and reached for Ariana's with it. "I'm sorry," she mumbled.
There were other noises, other voices filtering in. "I'm not... awake yet," Dolly said, to Ariana, to the others, to the people watching, and to herself.
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
Rhonda was panicking and crying. Rhonda was panicking and crying and she had such an ugly hysterical cry and there were cameras watching and she was going to die on camera and everyone in the entire planet could be looking at her right now.
Rhonda curled up. She pulled her legs in and wrapped her arms around them and bowed her head and wished she could be small. Basketball be damned, she was never going to play it again, but if only she was tiny and invisible.
It was loud and wet and cold and dark. It was a cave. There were other people in the cave. They weren't looking at her. They weren't trying to kill her. Maybe they'd ignore her and she could just sit here alone in the dark forever. There was eyeshadow in her mouth. She was crying and rubbing her eyes with her fists and salivating like a freak and wiping her mouth. Somehow the makeup had transferred. Her face was probably smeared and ugly now. What if it stained her teeth?
She spat, reflexively, a blob of beige saliva landing on the stone about a foot in front of her. Now she was spitting on camera. She couldn't see the camera but there was one. There had to be one. Rhonda heaved air into her lungs and broke into fresh sobs.
She was so humiliated. She wanted to die. She didn't want to die. She wanted someone to help her. She wanted to be alone. She sniffled.
Rhonda curled up. She pulled her legs in and wrapped her arms around them and bowed her head and wished she could be small. Basketball be damned, she was never going to play it again, but if only she was tiny and invisible.
It was loud and wet and cold and dark. It was a cave. There were other people in the cave. They weren't looking at her. They weren't trying to kill her. Maybe they'd ignore her and she could just sit here alone in the dark forever. There was eyeshadow in her mouth. She was crying and rubbing her eyes with her fists and salivating like a freak and wiping her mouth. Somehow the makeup had transferred. Her face was probably smeared and ugly now. What if it stained her teeth?
She spat, reflexively, a blob of beige saliva landing on the stone about a foot in front of her. Now she was spitting on camera. She couldn't see the camera but there was one. There had to be one. Rhonda heaved air into her lungs and broke into fresh sobs.
She was so humiliated. She wanted to die. She didn't want to die. She wanted someone to help her. She wanted to be alone. She sniffled.
Dolly's hand was soft, and her grip wasn't strong. The poor girl had obviously reacted badly to whatever gas they'd been dosed with, and she mumbled as much as Ariana gently grasped her arm and helped her to her feet. She didn't let her go for the moment, holding Dolly's hand with her right hand and keeping a steadying force on the side of her arm with her left. Now that her ears had attuned a little more, she vaguely heard what sounded like voices coming from outside of the cavern. Were they hopeful voices, friendly voices? Or were they aggressive voices, angry voices?
Who the fuck knew? Surely not Ariana, nor Dolly. They would have to take the chance.
"Don't worry, take your time," she lowered her voice so that hopefully only Dolly could hear it over the din of the falls. "No need to be sorry. It hit me like a wrecking ball too. It'll wear off soon."
Indeed, Ariana had felt loopy as hell when she'd first regained consciousness and it had taken more time than she'd care to admit for her to gain her bearings. Of course, then she'd flown into a rage and it had brought her all of the way back. Anger had its benefits, she supposed.
Allowing a moment for Dolly to regain her composure, Ariana tried to listen closely to the noises coming from outside of the cavern. The voices were male and female, but it was impossible to tell who or where they were. Then there was something else - crying? Again, it was hard to make it out and someone crying in this shit situation? It could have been anybody.
Stepping closer to Dolly, Ariana tried to position herself between the sound (and the presumed entrance of the cave) and the disoriented girl. Crying meant instability and instability meant unpredictability.
Unpredictability got people killed.
"I don't think we're alone in here; we've got people outside, too. You okay to stand?" Ariana didn't want to let go of Dolly only to have the girl collapse to the ground, though she also very much wanted to swing the pack on her back around and get an idea what she had to defend them with. God only hoped it wouldn't come to that.
Who the fuck knew? Surely not Ariana, nor Dolly. They would have to take the chance.
"Don't worry, take your time," she lowered her voice so that hopefully only Dolly could hear it over the din of the falls. "No need to be sorry. It hit me like a wrecking ball too. It'll wear off soon."
Indeed, Ariana had felt loopy as hell when she'd first regained consciousness and it had taken more time than she'd care to admit for her to gain her bearings. Of course, then she'd flown into a rage and it had brought her all of the way back. Anger had its benefits, she supposed.
Allowing a moment for Dolly to regain her composure, Ariana tried to listen closely to the noises coming from outside of the cavern. The voices were male and female, but it was impossible to tell who or where they were. Then there was something else - crying? Again, it was hard to make it out and someone crying in this shit situation? It could have been anybody.
Stepping closer to Dolly, Ariana tried to position herself between the sound (and the presumed entrance of the cave) and the disoriented girl. Crying meant instability and instability meant unpredictability.
Unpredictability got people killed.
"I don't think we're alone in here; we've got people outside, too. You okay to stand?" Ariana didn't want to let go of Dolly only to have the girl collapse to the ground, though she also very much wanted to swing the pack on her back around and get an idea what she had to defend them with. God only hoped it wouldn't come to that.
Meka slowly began to stop waving the flashlight around as his arm started to get tired. He wasn't sure if the people in the cave were seeing or hearing him or not. The waterfall itself could have been drowning him out, and they might have been too far in to notice him.
Meka lowered the flashlight, but kept the beam of light pointed into the cave. He slowly began moving it sideways, hoping to maybe make out some shapes within. He stepped in a little closer, hoping to see if he could figure out where the people inside were.
He finally stepped into the cave itself, and as he did, he started to make out some shapes. At least two people were there. He couldn't see who they were, but he called out to them.
"Hey, do you need help? It's Meka!" he called out.
Meka lowered the flashlight, but kept the beam of light pointed into the cave. He slowly began moving it sideways, hoping to maybe make out some shapes within. He stepped in a little closer, hoping to see if he could figure out where the people inside were.
He finally stepped into the cave itself, and as he did, he started to make out some shapes. At least two people were there. He couldn't see who they were, but he called out to them.
"Hey, do you need help? It's Meka!" he called out.
Dolly was tempted to lean her head on Ariana's shoulder, but she held herself up, such as it was. Was she struggling to wake, or did she simply not want to?
Funny. She'd always had the opposite problem.
"I can stand," she said, raising her voice enough to be heard, perhaps unnecessarily they were both on their feet now. She was still holding the knife, but now she didn't know what to do with it. Her dress had pockets; she sewed pockets into all of her skirts, filling in the corporate oversight. Putting a sizable knife into her pocket seemed like a bad idea, even to Dolly's muddled state of mind.
The light moved closer, solidified into a shape against the bigger, more outdoorsy light. Asking, did they need help?
"I think we all need help," Dolly murmured. That, in itself, wasn't very helpful, was it? Louder, she called, "We're here. It's Dolores and Ariana." And someone else?
Perhaps she'd never been alone, after all.
Funny. She'd always had the opposite problem.
"I can stand," she said, raising her voice enough to be heard, perhaps unnecessarily they were both on their feet now. She was still holding the knife, but now she didn't know what to do with it. Her dress had pockets; she sewed pockets into all of her skirts, filling in the corporate oversight. Putting a sizable knife into her pocket seemed like a bad idea, even to Dolly's muddled state of mind.
The light moved closer, solidified into a shape against the bigger, more outdoorsy light. Asking, did they need help?
"I think we all need help," Dolly murmured. That, in itself, wasn't very helpful, was it? Louder, she called, "We're here. It's Dolores and Ariana." And someone else?
Perhaps she'd never been alone, after all.
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
People were talking. Not screaming or threatening. Dolly was talking to her, but didn't know it was her. She was with Ariana, apparently. Rhonda heard another voice too, once that she'd have recognized even if he hadn't introduced himself. Rhonda had gone with Meka to the National Museum of African American History and Culture with him on the second day of the trip. They'd had a great time, and she actually liked Meka a lot in general. He was confident and calm and spoke his mind.
He didn't deserve to die. None of them did. Why did this happen?
Rhonda inhaled sharply, a loud and ugly gasp. She didn't know what she was going to do now, but she was cold and didn't want to be in this cave. If there were other people, Meka and Dolly and Ariana were confident, maybe they'd know what to do. She hoped they did. "It's me, Rhonda. Uh, I'm here." She paused. Did they know who 'Rhonda' was? Meka did, she hoped, she didn't think she was that forgettable. That was the least of her worries normally. How often she'd wished she could be forgettable. Dolly might, Ariana probably didn't. She also did sports and Rhonda envied how confidently she carried her style, but they'd never interacted much.
Taking a couple deep breaths, Rhonda leaned forward and stood, before crouching again and scooping the bag she'd been curled up against into her arms like a baby. Fumbling with the strap, her hands uncomfortably shaky, Rhonda turned and looked out at the others. "Uhm, I don't have a gun. I think." Why did she say that? Idiot. "Sorry."
He didn't deserve to die. None of them did. Why did this happen?
Rhonda inhaled sharply, a loud and ugly gasp. She didn't know what she was going to do now, but she was cold and didn't want to be in this cave. If there were other people, Meka and Dolly and Ariana were confident, maybe they'd know what to do. She hoped they did. "It's me, Rhonda. Uh, I'm here." She paused. Did they know who 'Rhonda' was? Meka did, she hoped, she didn't think she was that forgettable. That was the least of her worries normally. How often she'd wished she could be forgettable. Dolly might, Ariana probably didn't. She also did sports and Rhonda envied how confidently she carried her style, but they'd never interacted much.
Taking a couple deep breaths, Rhonda leaned forward and stood, before crouching again and scooping the bag she'd been curled up against into her arms like a baby. Fumbling with the strap, her hands uncomfortably shaky, Rhonda turned and looked out at the others. "Uhm, I don't have a gun. I think." Why did she say that? Idiot. "Sorry."
Dolly seemed to collect a few more of her faculties; enough to call out to the voices, that Ariana could now hear were Meka and someone whom she still couldn't place. It was still far too dark to see anything, but they identified themselves as Rhonda. Thinking back, she couldn't immediately conjure up an image of Rhonda, but she sounded like she was barely holding on, so odds were they were just another scared teenager and not a scared-enough-to-kill teenager.
Ariana gave Dolly's arm a reassuring squeeze, and then let her hand fall to her pack. For the moment, things might have been okay, but Ariana really wanted to know what the whole picture looked like. Dolly had the wicked-looking knife; Rhonda had called out and informed them she didn't have a gun - which was fucking weird and unsettled Ariana a little now that she thought about it - and Meka was still an unknown. Her mind was working on overdrive as she reached over and unzipped the pack, her hands trembling a bit more than she approved of. Cracking the bag open, she pointed her flashlight at the bag and looked inside.
"Holy fuck."
Quickly, Ariana zipped her bag back up when she saw the telltale shape of a pistol laying next to what looked to be a medical kit. Rhonda may not have had a gun, but she surely did. Looking back up at Dolly, she shot her a loaded look. Her confidence grew a little knowing what she did about firearms and believing that she could at least offer a front line of defense against anyone who was truly taking all of this bullshit to heart. Grabbing Dolly's arm once more, she leaned in and quickly whispered in the girl's ear.
"I can protect us. I have a gun." Her certainty faded a little. "This is all so fucked up but I'll do my best."
Stepping back, she turned around to face the other occupants of the cave and brought her voice to its normal booming tone.
"Meka, can you wave your flashlight around again? We should all come to you. Rhonda, are you okay to do that?"
She left the gun in her pack for now. Pulses were already racing; nobody needed a reason to get any more agitated. It would be best if they could see one another, too. Yelling over the din of the waterfall was getting old.
Ariana gave Dolly's arm a reassuring squeeze, and then let her hand fall to her pack. For the moment, things might have been okay, but Ariana really wanted to know what the whole picture looked like. Dolly had the wicked-looking knife; Rhonda had called out and informed them she didn't have a gun - which was fucking weird and unsettled Ariana a little now that she thought about it - and Meka was still an unknown. Her mind was working on overdrive as she reached over and unzipped the pack, her hands trembling a bit more than she approved of. Cracking the bag open, she pointed her flashlight at the bag and looked inside.
"Holy fuck."
Quickly, Ariana zipped her bag back up when she saw the telltale shape of a pistol laying next to what looked to be a medical kit. Rhonda may not have had a gun, but she surely did. Looking back up at Dolly, she shot her a loaded look. Her confidence grew a little knowing what she did about firearms and believing that she could at least offer a front line of defense against anyone who was truly taking all of this bullshit to heart. Grabbing Dolly's arm once more, she leaned in and quickly whispered in the girl's ear.
"I can protect us. I have a gun." Her certainty faded a little. "This is all so fucked up but I'll do my best."
Stepping back, she turned around to face the other occupants of the cave and brought her voice to its normal booming tone.
"Meka, can you wave your flashlight around again? We should all come to you. Rhonda, are you okay to do that?"
She left the gun in her pack for now. Pulses were already racing; nobody needed a reason to get any more agitated. It would be best if they could see one another, too. Yelling over the din of the waterfall was getting old.
Okay. Meka was finally starting to get names. The first two were Dolores and Ariana. He remembered them from school. Dolores was the girl into that doll fashion or whatever it was called. She was supposed to be a bit creepy, but Meka never really had any serious interactions with her, so he was privy to think she was just quirky. Ariana was pretty cool, although she was apparently pro-cop, which Meka wasn't too fond of. Still, he could at least try to put that aside for now. Clearly there were more important things to deal with.
He perked up a bit when he heard Rhonda calling out. Thank god. An actual friend right off the bat in this hellish game. Rhonda was someone Meka really liked at school, and knowing she was here meant he could have someone to trust. After all, they were just days ago walking through a museum together. That was hopefully the kind of bonding experience that would help here.
Ariana called out for him to wave his flashlight again.
"Yeah, I can do that! Come on over!"
Meka flicked the flashlight on and began to wave it around again. He slowly stepped back so he could lead the ladies out of the darkness. It was a motley crew inside this cave, but hey, Meka could see worse team combinations with the Class of 2018. He could gladly take this.
He perked up a bit when he heard Rhonda calling out. Thank god. An actual friend right off the bat in this hellish game. Rhonda was someone Meka really liked at school, and knowing she was here meant he could have someone to trust. After all, they were just days ago walking through a museum together. That was hopefully the kind of bonding experience that would help here.
Ariana called out for him to wave his flashlight again.
"Yeah, I can do that! Come on over!"
Meka flicked the flashlight on and began to wave it around again. He slowly stepped back so he could lead the ladies out of the darkness. It was a motley crew inside this cave, but hey, Meka could see worse team combinations with the Class of 2018. He could gladly take this.