((Claire Monaghan continued from Un Coeur en Hiver))
((P.S. All GMing of Kyle in this post has been approved by Skraal))
Claire stabbed the head of the shovel into the ground, making sure to get a large clump of dirt to scoop up. She quickly hurled it behind her, sending it flying into the air and onto a pile that was forming. She quickly wiped the sweat from her brow.
Holy fuck, is this the kind of shit Stanley Yelnats had to do every day at Camp Greenlake? Note to self: find less laborious line of work if somehow able to get off this rock.
Claire and Kyle had pushed the gurney with Jason's body into the woods near the hospital. It was slightly difficult to maneuver the gurney over rocks and roots, but they eventually got it to a flat area between some trees. They marked out an area to begin digging the grave and set about digging into the ground. They knew it had to be a few feet deep so wild animals wouldn't dig it up, but they also knew that the longer they spent on it, the more vulnerable they would be.
Claire continued to dig at the ground. She removed her beret, glasses, and jacket before she began and set them in a nice pile near the gurney. They had been digging for a few hours, trying to ensure that there would be enough room to place Jason's body in. Her Legend of Korra t-shirt was staining with sweat and getting dirt on it. She'd probably need to bathe soon, if she could find a working shower that didn't spew brown water.
She had other things to think about at the moment. She and Kyle were probably going to be at the preferred depth soon, and her hands were beginning to blister. She was sure they'd be oozing for a few days, something that might be difficult if they found other bodies to bury. Claire gritted her teeth at each seer of pain from the blisters. She was going to finish this grave if it meant she'd have to rub ointment on her hands all night.
Claire stopped after shoveling a clump of dirt out of the ground, panting and airing out her shirt collar. She turned to Kyle.
"Hey, do you think we're deep enough yet? We do have to climb out of this thing, and we should figure out what we're gonna do for a grave marker."
Come on Everypony! Smile, smile, smile!
Funerals
((Kyle Fitzpatrick continued from Un Coeur en Hiver))
Kyle paused to wipe the sweat off his brow as Claire asked her question. How the hell was he supposed to know how deep to bury a body? Then again, his guess was as good enough as any. He looked down around at the sides of the hole. It seemed pretty deep. He didn't really feel like digging anymore, so he pulled himself out of it and sat on the edge.
"It looks deep enough to me."
He sat for a moment, looking around. Jason's body was already starting to gather flies. No offense to the kid, but he'd like to get that corpse dealt with as soon as possible. Laying his shovel on the ground, he turned back to Claire.
"I'm not really sure what we can use as a grave marker. Maybe a stick and some sheets from the gurney?"
Kyle paused to wipe the sweat off his brow as Claire asked her question. How the hell was he supposed to know how deep to bury a body? Then again, his guess was as good enough as any. He looked down around at the sides of the hole. It seemed pretty deep. He didn't really feel like digging anymore, so he pulled himself out of it and sat on the edge.
"It looks deep enough to me."
He sat for a moment, looking around. Jason's body was already starting to gather flies. No offense to the kid, but he'd like to get that corpse dealt with as soon as possible. Laying his shovel on the ground, he turned back to Claire.
"I'm not really sure what we can use as a grave marker. Maybe a stick and some sheets from the gurney?"
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((Joe Carrasco continued from Shock Treatment.))
After leaving the cliff, Joe had spent most of the day walking. He'd only stopped near the ocean at one point to clean off all the blood. He'd tossed his hoodie away and tried to get the stains out of his jeans, though that had been less than successful and there were still large, red splotches on the knees. His hands had been the most painful to clean, since all the scratching at the dry blood had drawn fresh blood, and it hurt when he'd stuck them into the ocean. He probably should have seen that coming. Even now his hands were sore, though at least they'd stopped bleeding.
He'd looked for people as he was walking, but that hadn't worked either. No friends. No Theodore. No anyone. He hadn't known where to go. But after Dan's send-off his mind was on burials. He hadn't been able to get Jason out of his head, so he'd started to walk back towards the hospital. He'd been close when he heard noises. Digging noises.
Joe hesitated before creeping through the trees towards the noise. It could be a friend. It could be Theo. It having anything to do with Jason didn't cross his mind. At least not until he walked into a tiny clearing and saw the hole, with two classmates standing inside it, and Jason's body lying nearby.
The shock of Jason suddenly being there caused Joe to let out an odd squeaky yelp and to instinctively cling to the nearest tree. There wasn't so much blood here... most of it was probably still on the floor of the hospital... but the sight of what was left of Jason's face was enough to make Joe feel really dizzy and nauseous. The terror and the overpowering guilt that had been pushed back a little since the announcement flooded back.
He didn't move or say anything else, instead staring at the body and the two students like a deer caught in the headlights. Were they friends of Jason? They probably were, most wouldn't go out of their way to move a body so far and bury it for someone they didn't know, so...
So... they probably wouldn't be happy to see him. To put it lightly. Joe realised he should run, but his legs didn't want to cooperate.
After leaving the cliff, Joe had spent most of the day walking. He'd only stopped near the ocean at one point to clean off all the blood. He'd tossed his hoodie away and tried to get the stains out of his jeans, though that had been less than successful and there were still large, red splotches on the knees. His hands had been the most painful to clean, since all the scratching at the dry blood had drawn fresh blood, and it hurt when he'd stuck them into the ocean. He probably should have seen that coming. Even now his hands were sore, though at least they'd stopped bleeding.
He'd looked for people as he was walking, but that hadn't worked either. No friends. No Theodore. No anyone. He hadn't known where to go. But after Dan's send-off his mind was on burials. He hadn't been able to get Jason out of his head, so he'd started to walk back towards the hospital. He'd been close when he heard noises. Digging noises.
Joe hesitated before creeping through the trees towards the noise. It could be a friend. It could be Theo. It having anything to do with Jason didn't cross his mind. At least not until he walked into a tiny clearing and saw the hole, with two classmates standing inside it, and Jason's body lying nearby.
The shock of Jason suddenly being there caused Joe to let out an odd squeaky yelp and to instinctively cling to the nearest tree. There wasn't so much blood here... most of it was probably still on the floor of the hospital... but the sight of what was left of Jason's face was enough to make Joe feel really dizzy and nauseous. The terror and the overpowering guilt that had been pushed back a little since the announcement flooded back.
He didn't move or say anything else, instead staring at the body and the two students like a deer caught in the headlights. Were they friends of Jason? They probably were, most wouldn't go out of their way to move a body so far and bury it for someone they didn't know, so...
So... they probably wouldn't be happy to see him. To put it lightly. Joe realised he should run, but his legs didn't want to cooperate.
Claire cracked her knuckles as Kyle told her about the grave marker. They probably should have figured out exactly what to mark the grave with before they pushed the body out. They didn't have any large planks of wood or stone to carve into a grave, so they'd probably have to improvise.
"Yeah, we can try to make a cross," Claire said, tossing her shovel out of the grave. "We could also lay stones over the grave and carve his name onto them."
Claire then grabbed the edge of the grave and hoisted herself up. She rubbed her stomach on the dirt, dirtying her shirt even further. She finally dragged herself on the ground, lying face down. She then looked up and noticed that there was someone staring at the grave. Claire bit her lip and looked back at the grave. Now that she thought about it, the idea of seeing two of your classmates digging a grave and having a body nearby must have looked really fishy.
"Um.......hi," she said to the boy.
She quickly stood up and began to wipe the dirt off her shirt. She couldn't make herself look completely presentable to him, but she had to at least make it clear she and Kyle didn't kill him.
"So, um, we didn't kill this guy," she said, pointing to the body. "We found him in the hospital and decided to bury him. That's all."
Claire looked over the boy. He didn't look like he was doing so well. She was having trouble recalling his name at the moment. He wasn't someone she was that close to, and she couldn't remember if she had a class with him or not. She really hoped that he was going to believe her.
"Yeah, we can try to make a cross," Claire said, tossing her shovel out of the grave. "We could also lay stones over the grave and carve his name onto them."
Claire then grabbed the edge of the grave and hoisted herself up. She rubbed her stomach on the dirt, dirtying her shirt even further. She finally dragged herself on the ground, lying face down. She then looked up and noticed that there was someone staring at the grave. Claire bit her lip and looked back at the grave. Now that she thought about it, the idea of seeing two of your classmates digging a grave and having a body nearby must have looked really fishy.
"Um.......hi," she said to the boy.
She quickly stood up and began to wipe the dirt off her shirt. She couldn't make herself look completely presentable to him, but she had to at least make it clear she and Kyle didn't kill him.
"So, um, we didn't kill this guy," she said, pointing to the body. "We found him in the hospital and decided to bury him. That's all."
Claire looked over the boy. He didn't look like he was doing so well. She was having trouble recalling his name at the moment. He wasn't someone she was that close to, and she couldn't remember if she had a class with him or not. She really hoped that he was going to believe her.
Kyle didn't know this new kid, but he certainly didn't look like he was up to any good. His heart rate began to speed up as he examined the newcomer. He did not want to have to deal with any more people, especially not now. They just needed to finish with this body and leave.
He sighed. He didn't want a fight, but he didn't want to talk to this kid either. What should he do? He looked at the new boy, then to Claire, then back to the new kid again.
Eventually, he spoke.
"Well, um...do you need something?""
Damn. That sounded more combative then he had hoped. Hopefully it wasn't taken the wrong way. Kyle looked down to the ground. Claire could better resolve the conversation, anyway.
Unless the guy decided that he wanted to kill the both of them. Kyle didn't know much about him, but that was always a possibility here.
He sighed. He didn't want a fight, but he didn't want to talk to this kid either. What should he do? He looked at the new boy, then to Claire, then back to the new kid again.
Eventually, he spoke.
"Well, um...do you need something?""
Damn. That sounded more combative then he had hoped. Hopefully it wasn't taken the wrong way. Kyle looked down to the ground. Claire could better resolve the conversation, anyway.
Unless the guy decided that he wanted to kill the both of them. Kyle didn't know much about him, but that was always a possibility here.
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ViolentMedic
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"Whuh?"
Well, of course he knew they hadn't killed Jason. But if the girl even had to insist on that... it meant they didn't know who he was. Should he tell them? No, that was a stupid idea. It wasn't as if he'd be lying if he didn't say anything about it. Just omitting the truth. Which was probably as bad as lying in this situation but...
"No, I, um... I know. The... whoever killed him wuh... would have... run off like a jerk."
Joe dropped his bag before edging out from the cover of the trees. He nervously fiddled with his fingers, subconsciously rubbing at the sore parts, and kept his eyes down.
"I just... I just want to help. Help bury him. Show... show r-r-respect and... yeah."
He looked up a little so he could see them. "Um, do you... do you need help getting out of the guh... gruh... um, the hole?" He walked to the edge of the hole and held out a hand, in case they did.
Well, of course he knew they hadn't killed Jason. But if the girl even had to insist on that... it meant they didn't know who he was. Should he tell them? No, that was a stupid idea. It wasn't as if he'd be lying if he didn't say anything about it. Just omitting the truth. Which was probably as bad as lying in this situation but...
"No, I, um... I know. The... whoever killed him wuh... would have... run off like a jerk."
Joe dropped his bag before edging out from the cover of the trees. He nervously fiddled with his fingers, subconsciously rubbing at the sore parts, and kept his eyes down.
"I just... I just want to help. Help bury him. Show... show r-r-respect and... yeah."
He looked up a little so he could see them. "Um, do you... do you need help getting out of the guh... gruh... um, the hole?" He walked to the edge of the hole and held out a hand, in case they did.
Claire began to relax a little. The boy knew they didn't kill Jason, and it looked like we was more concerned with helping with the burial. That was exactly what they needed right now. They could get Jason in the ground, then spend the night gathering supplies and resting before continuing their quest.
"Yeah, you can help," Claire said. "We just got to put him in the ground, cover him up, and then mark his grave."
Claire quickly brushed her hair back. Her hair was starting to get a bit dried out from the humidity, and she couldn't find a hair tie. She should probably try to shower and change clothes soon, if she could possibly find a shower that didn't spew brown shit that didn't even resemble water.
"Hey, did you know Jason Meyers? We want to say a few things as well, but neither of us know much about him."
"Yeah, you can help," Claire said. "We just got to put him in the ground, cover him up, and then mark his grave."
Claire quickly brushed her hair back. Her hair was starting to get a bit dried out from the humidity, and she couldn't find a hair tie. She should probably try to shower and change clothes soon, if she could possibly find a shower that didn't spew brown shit that didn't even resemble water.
"Hey, did you know Jason Meyers? We want to say a few things as well, but neither of us know much about him."
Kyle stared as he listened to the other boy talk. He didn't know exactly what it was about the situation in particular that made him so anxious, but it probably had something to do with the freaking dead body lying off to the side. This situation was getting worse and worse, though he probably should have expected that by now. Nothing ever works out that cleanly, anyway.
He gave a soft groan as he stood up. The vest was chafing against his skin, but there was no way that he was taking it off now. The best thing to do would probably be to get this show on the road. The longer they delayed, the more likely someone else would come in and cause more trouble. He turned to Claire and spoke quickly.
"You guys can keep talking. I'm just going to put this body in the ground before the flies get all of it."
He walked over to where Jason's body lay. The smell was horrible. Grabbing onto the cloth under the corpse, he pulled it into the hole that they had dug. It felt a lot lighter than it was earlier. Now all they had to do was cover it up and make the marker.
He gave a soft groan as he stood up. The vest was chafing against his skin, but there was no way that he was taking it off now. The best thing to do would probably be to get this show on the road. The longer they delayed, the more likely someone else would come in and cause more trouble. He turned to Claire and spoke quickly.
"You guys can keep talking. I'm just going to put this body in the ground before the flies get all of it."
He walked over to where Jason's body lay. The smell was horrible. Grabbing onto the cloth under the corpse, he pulled it into the hole that they had dug. It felt a lot lighter than it was earlier. Now all they had to do was cover it up and make the marker.
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ViolentMedic
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"I, um... um..." Joe went quiet for a moment, watching the boy drag Jason into the hole. "...Not r-really. I... met him once." That was all he could manage. Because the only follow-up to that he could think of was 'and then I shot him.'
He shuffled towards the pile of dirt near the hole and started pushing some of the dirt back in. He wondered why they had put so much effort into bringing Jason this far for burial if they hadn't known him. Joe thought it was a nice sentiment, and everyone deserved a burial of some sort, but it seemed an abnormal amount of effort given the circumstances.
"Um, if you don't know him, why... um... I mean... s'far from the hospital and... nevermind..." Joe didn't finish the sentence. Pointless to ask. Wasn't any of his business.
Joe quieted down and continued to push dirt in the hole, slowly covering Jason up.
He shuffled towards the pile of dirt near the hole and started pushing some of the dirt back in. He wondered why they had put so much effort into bringing Jason this far for burial if they hadn't known him. Joe thought it was a nice sentiment, and everyone deserved a burial of some sort, but it seemed an abnormal amount of effort given the circumstances.
"Um, if you don't know him, why... um... I mean... s'far from the hospital and... nevermind..." Joe didn't finish the sentence. Pointless to ask. Wasn't any of his business.
Joe quieted down and continued to push dirt in the hole, slowly covering Jason up.
Claire waited for a response from the stuttering boy. He seemed to know Jason but only in the briefest sense. The boy looked more focused on watching Kyle drag Jason's body into the ground. Claire wondered why Kyle didn't wait until they were ready to help. They could have dropped him in a bit more delicately than that.
Eh, it has to be done eventually. Oh right, why we're far from the hospital.
"No, it's fine," Claire said to the boy. "Yeah, we're a ways away from the hospital, but we wanted to get him away from the city. Have a little more privacy to do our job. As for why we're doing it, we've decided to treat our classmates with more respect than this whole terrorist organization has given them. We are human, after all."
Claire cleared her throat and brushed some hair back.
"Anyways, let's find some stones so we can mark the site. Then we can cover the grave. You're welcome to help, if you'd like."
Eh, it has to be done eventually. Oh right, why we're far from the hospital.
"No, it's fine," Claire said to the boy. "Yeah, we're a ways away from the hospital, but we wanted to get him away from the city. Have a little more privacy to do our job. As for why we're doing it, we've decided to treat our classmates with more respect than this whole terrorist organization has given them. We are human, after all."
Claire cleared her throat and brushed some hair back.
"Anyways, let's find some stones so we can mark the site. Then we can cover the grave. You're welcome to help, if you'd like."
Kyle picked up his shovel as he listened to the others talk. The conversation seemed to be going alright. Anyway, he reasoned, if the new kid was going to attack them, he would have done it by then.
Unless that was just what he wanted them to think.
Kyle put his hands to his head, trying to block out the thought. He had a task here, and the sooner that he completed it, the sooner he could get out of here. He stuck his shovel in the ground and pulled out some dirt, throwing it onto the grave in front of him. Then he did it again. And again. And again.
Just a few more times, and this would be over with. He wondered if anyone would take the time to bury him if he died. Probably not.
He pushed the thought out of his mind again, forcing himself to concentrate on the movement of his shovel and the accumulation of dirt in the hole in front of him.
Unless that was just what he wanted them to think.
Kyle put his hands to his head, trying to block out the thought. He had a task here, and the sooner that he completed it, the sooner he could get out of here. He stuck his shovel in the ground and pulled out some dirt, throwing it onto the grave in front of him. Then he did it again. And again. And again.
Just a few more times, and this would be over with. He wondered if anyone would take the time to bury him if he died. Probably not.
He pushed the thought out of his mind again, forcing himself to concentrate on the movement of his shovel and the accumulation of dirt in the hole in front of him.
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Joe quietly nodded and continued pushing dirt into the hole with his hands. He supposed that was as good a reason as anything else. Certainly a much nicer thing to do than to run around and murder classmates.
Together, the three of them filled in the hole and found enough small rocks and pebbles to mark the site with. Even when they were done, Joe kept patting and smoothing out the dirt, trying to make it look as perfect as possible. He kept his eyes on the dirt.
"I hope that's good enough, Jason," he murmured at the grave.
He didn't say anything else, instead waiting to see if anyone else would speak. He didn't have much else besides prayers. There was only so much he could say in front of the others without letting them know he was the murderer. And it was just so hard to put into words all the things he wished he could tell Jason. He just kept smoothing out the dirt silently.
Together, the three of them filled in the hole and found enough small rocks and pebbles to mark the site with. Even when they were done, Joe kept patting and smoothing out the dirt, trying to make it look as perfect as possible. He kept his eyes on the dirt.
"I hope that's good enough, Jason," he murmured at the grave.
He didn't say anything else, instead waiting to see if anyone else would speak. He didn't have much else besides prayers. There was only so much he could say in front of the others without letting them know he was the murderer. And it was just so hard to put into words all the things he wished he could tell Jason. He just kept smoothing out the dirt silently.
Over the next few minutes, Claire thought about what she was going to say when they were ready to give their parting words to Jason. She tried to think of everything that she could about Jason, and how appropriate it would be for the setting. It was something to think about while she and the guys found rocks and covered the ground. It was still hard to believe she was burying a classmate, and so it helped to try and think of something else while the work was being done.
Finally, the body was covered and the rocks were placed, enough to leave a cross and spell Jason's name. The only hope now would be that if anyone passed over this spot, they'd at least not disturb the rough marker.
"Well, I guess we should all say something," she said.
Claire stared at the grave. This was the time to be a good speaker, to show how she could make her words clear.
"Jason Meyers was not a bad person. He didn't deserve to be killed like he did here. He is a victim of a horrible game, and he unfortunately died before any help could come. But he's gone. He doesn't have to suffer anymore. He can watch all the MLP in Heaven with the other students have passed. The rest of us will have to stay in this game for a little while longer. Until we all meet again, we will not forget that our friends and peers were taken too soon, and we will do our best to give them the respect they deserve."
Claire wiped her eyes.
"Anyone else have anything to say?"
Finally, the body was covered and the rocks were placed, enough to leave a cross and spell Jason's name. The only hope now would be that if anyone passed over this spot, they'd at least not disturb the rough marker.
"Well, I guess we should all say something," she said.
Claire stared at the grave. This was the time to be a good speaker, to show how she could make her words clear.
"Jason Meyers was not a bad person. He didn't deserve to be killed like he did here. He is a victim of a horrible game, and he unfortunately died before any help could come. But he's gone. He doesn't have to suffer anymore. He can watch all the MLP in Heaven with the other students have passed. The rest of us will have to stay in this game for a little while longer. Until we all meet again, we will not forget that our friends and peers were taken too soon, and we will do our best to give them the respect they deserve."
Claire wiped her eyes.
"Anyone else have anything to say?"
Kyle scratched his head as he stood, staring into the hole. What could he say? He didn't know this kid at all, and it would definitely sound fake if he pretended to. He swallowed. sure, it sucks that he died, but, really, what could Kyle do about that?
Wait.
That wasn't right. This was a tragedy, wasn't it? Shouldn't he feel more upset? A knot began to form in Kyle's stomach. He had to say something, to show sympathy for this loss of life. He owed it to Jason, at least.
He closed his eyes for a moment before looking back into the hole. Quietly, he added his part.
"Wherever he is now... I hope he's happy now."
Wait.
That wasn't right. This was a tragedy, wasn't it? Shouldn't he feel more upset? A knot began to form in Kyle's stomach. He had to say something, to show sympathy for this loss of life. He owed it to Jason, at least.
He closed his eyes for a moment before looking back into the hole. Quietly, he added his part.
"Wherever he is now... I hope he's happy now."
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"He... he has to be happier than who's left," Joe mumbled, still smoothing out the dirt over Jason's grave. After all, anyone still alive had nothing but friends and themselves dying left to look forward to. Except the winner. But living after this didn't have any appeal, either. Especially the things someone would have to do to get there. Maybe it was a good thing Jason had been removed from that so--
No. No, thinking that way was just finding excuses to make himself feel better.
Joe said the same Spanish prayer that he had given to Dan. He fumbled with his words a lot more during it than he had back then, maybe because of the others surrounding him, or because of the fact that he actually knew Jason. He scratched at his palms as he did so, instead of holding them together properly. He tried, but he subconsciously returned to scratching.
After he completed the prayer, he went silent for a couple of moments more. Still in Spanish, this time so that the others couldn't understand him, he added, "I'm really sorry for what I did, and that this is all I can do to make it up to you. I know it's not enough. I'm really, really sorry." His voice cracked as he apologized.
He backed away from the grave and left after that. He didn't say good-bye. He and the two who had made it their mission to bury people... they didn't really have much to say to each other outside of that, did they? And the longer Joe was with them, the more time they would have to figure out who he was, or maybe someone else would mistake them for knowing and think they had something to do with Jason as well.
Plus, they weren't his friends. And he still needed to find them.
((Joe Carrasco continued in Dyspnoea.))
No. No, thinking that way was just finding excuses to make himself feel better.
Joe said the same Spanish prayer that he had given to Dan. He fumbled with his words a lot more during it than he had back then, maybe because of the others surrounding him, or because of the fact that he actually knew Jason. He scratched at his palms as he did so, instead of holding them together properly. He tried, but he subconsciously returned to scratching.
After he completed the prayer, he went silent for a couple of moments more. Still in Spanish, this time so that the others couldn't understand him, he added, "I'm really sorry for what I did, and that this is all I can do to make it up to you. I know it's not enough. I'm really, really sorry." His voice cracked as he apologized.
He backed away from the grave and left after that. He didn't say good-bye. He and the two who had made it their mission to bury people... they didn't really have much to say to each other outside of that, did they? And the longer Joe was with them, the more time they would have to figure out who he was, or maybe someone else would mistake them for knowing and think they had something to do with Jason as well.
Plus, they weren't his friends. And he still needed to find them.
((Joe Carrasco continued in Dyspnoea.))