He sighed.
"I haven't seen him, thank fuckin' Jesus."
That guy had killed, what, half a dozen people?
Keith probably wouldn't have turned out very well if he had run into him. But why was Emma so damn obsessed with him anyway? Did he kill someone she cared about? One of the other Luz's
"I saw Fiyori earlier, but before that it'd been a while since I'd been with anyone." Ty had fucking left, and Lizzie had died on him. He should have done better to stop her from leaving, especially with the state Ty was in.. Then Isabel couldn't have done what she did. But luckily she was dead now too.
And Lizzie's cousin was right in front of him.
"I uh, I'm sorry for what happened with Lizzie," he blurted out.
Nailed it.
Late to the Party
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Courtography
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Okay, so he hadn't seen him? Maybe? Was he telling the truth? No Alessio, ever? Well, he did mention Fiyori. Who did Fiyori kill again? She was one of the people who killed Isabel, wasn't she? Did she kill anyone else? Emma was drawing a blank. On one hand, Emma still felt relieved that Isabel was gone, as strange as it felt when she heard the news. On the other, Dorothy had been one of them, too, and...
Emma tensed up at the thought. Even more than she already did.
But something got her attention. She raised her head a bit more.
"What about her?" she asked.
Her voice came out snappish. It was strange that he brought her up specifically. She'd lost friends, cousins, a sister. Lizzie had been important to her, of course. But something was up, if he had something to say about her in particular.
Emma tensed up at the thought. Even more than she already did.
But something got her attention. She raised her head a bit more.
"What about her?" she asked.
Her voice came out snappish. It was strange that he brought her up specifically. She'd lost friends, cousins, a sister. Lizzie had been important to her, of course. But something was up, if he had something to say about her in particular.
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Courtography
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Fuck. How would he explain this?
She had snapped at him. It wasn't what he was expecting. He had said he was sorry for what happened, but it obviously wasn't his fault. Isabel had done what she had done since arriving on the island, and Keith didn't have anything to do with that. But maybe Emma thought that he did.
He could feel his face flushing in frustration.
"I...I didn't," he stammered out.
He didn't get there in time. But she had run off, so he hadn't done anything especially heinous.
It was all shit regardless.
She had snapped at him. It wasn't what he was expecting. He had said he was sorry for what happened, but it obviously wasn't his fault. Isabel had done what she had done since arriving on the island, and Keith didn't have anything to do with that. But maybe Emma thought that he did.
He could feel his face flushing in frustration.
"I...I didn't," he stammered out.
He didn't get there in time. But she had run off, so he hadn't done anything especially heinous.
It was all shit regardless.
"You didn't what?" Emma snapped again.
Obviously, she knew who killed Lizzie. Isabel did. Lily apparently... helped. So, it wasn't like Keith did it. But again, the fact that he brought her up rose some alarms. Why would he? It didn't make any sense, and the fact that he "didn't" wasn't a helpful answer. "Didn't" could mean all sorts of things. Did he do something after all? Did he not do something he should've?
The sword shook harder.
"Tell me, what didn't you do? A-answer me."
For a moment, Emma tried to make her face straight again, only for her lips to curl and tighten. She inhaled again, making a seething noise as she exhaled. He'd better explain. Emma wasn't fond of him dancing around it.
Obviously, she knew who killed Lizzie. Isabel did. Lily apparently... helped. So, it wasn't like Keith did it. But again, the fact that he brought her up rose some alarms. Why would he? It didn't make any sense, and the fact that he "didn't" wasn't a helpful answer. "Didn't" could mean all sorts of things. Did he do something after all? Did he not do something he should've?
The sword shook harder.
"Tell me, what didn't you do? A-answer me."
For a moment, Emma tried to make her face straight again, only for her lips to curl and tighten. She inhaled again, making a seething noise as she exhaled. He'd better explain. Emma wasn't fond of him dancing around it.
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Courtography
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His eyes were focused on the sword. Swords could kill. Emma could kill him right now, just like Jasmine could have killed him a week ago. Everything was just repeating over and over. The library wasn't far at all, but he wasn't going to just drop to the ground and beg this time around. If he could just get himself together he could explain everything to Emma.
He took a step back.
How was he supposed to know she'd run off when he wasn't looking?
His head ached.
"I didn't- she surprised me." He waved his arms for emphasis, trying to say the things his mouth wasn't able to.
He felt sweat dampening his shirt.
The words weren't coming out right and Emma had the sword. He had to get through to her. The sword wasn't help anything.
His arm shot out towards her wrist. Getting rid of the sword would defuse the situation. It had to.
He took a step back.
How was he supposed to know she'd run off when he wasn't looking?
His head ached.
"I didn't- she surprised me." He waved his arms for emphasis, trying to say the things his mouth wasn't able to.
He felt sweat dampening his shirt.
The words weren't coming out right and Emma had the sword. He had to get through to her. The sword wasn't help anything.
His arm shot out towards her wrist. Getting rid of the sword would defuse the situation. It had to.
That wasn't a good answer. "Surprised" him? What on earth was that supposed to mean? It only made Emma shake more, only made her seethe more. Only made her tenser. Her eyes narrowed. Keith was unhelpful, and suspicious, and didn't bother to clear things up. He could have clarified, he could have done anything.
Then Keith did it.
Suddenly he was right in front of her. Suddenly his hand darted.
It happened too quickly. Emma felt herself flinch backwards. She felt herself swing the blade.
"Stop-"
Thunk.
She felt one more thing. It was the blade connecting.
Then Keith did it.
Suddenly he was right in front of her. Suddenly his hand darted.
It happened too quickly. Emma felt herself flinch backwards. She felt herself swing the blade.
"Stop-"
Thunk.
She felt one more thing. It was the blade connecting.
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Courtography
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Something had gone wrong. He wasn't able to process if he had misjudged where Emma was or if he had just moved too slowly. What he was aware of was the sudden pain and the vague awareness in his ears of a wet squishing sound. He could feel his throat and jaw clenching in response to the pain, but he couldn't hear if he was making any sounds.
Emma had cut him open. She wasn't like Lizzie at all even if they were family.
He barely felt when his knees hit the ground. The pain was meaningless compared to the feeling in his guts. He had to get up, but if he did Emma would probably just finish him off. His wound couldn't be that bad. He just needed to keep alert for a bit.
He turned his head to try and see if she was still close and ready to attack.
It was dark. He'd dropped the flashlight.
He groaned.
Emma had cut him open. She wasn't like Lizzie at all even if they were family.
He barely felt when his knees hit the ground. The pain was meaningless compared to the feeling in his guts. He had to get up, but if he did Emma would probably just finish him off. His wound couldn't be that bad. He just needed to keep alert for a bit.
He turned his head to try and see if she was still close and ready to attack.
It was dark. He'd dropped the flashlight.
He groaned.
A new emotion bubbled to the surface. It wasn't suspicion, like how she felt when he came in. It wasn't frustration, like how she felt when he dodged answering her questions. But it was equally unpleasant all the same.
Keith collapsed to the floor. A fresh feeling of nausea hit as Emma realized. She hit him. She had no idea how bad it was, but the dim beam cast by his dropped flashlight showed that there was a lot of red seeping from the blow. Emma knew a cut like that could be dangerous. Depending on how deep it was, it could cause an infection, or organ damage. It could cause shock, too. Point was, Keith was injured, and worse, Emma wasn't sure how bad it was.
And worse still? She had no idea what to do about it. On one hand, he was acting suspicious and unhelpful. On the other, he was still hurt, and she was the one who did it. Emma stared at the wound, her eyes wide open. Could she apply first aid? Could she make him leave, even with his injury? Could she even... finish the job?
That feeling came back. It reminded her of Mabes, of the seagull, of Alessio. Emma gulped. Her throat felt a little dry.
She took another step backwards. Her eyes flicked to the sword, still in her hands. It gleamed a matching dark red in the dim light. Her heart pounded in her ears, her breathing seemed to go faster and faster. She'd attacked him, but she had no idea where to go from here.
"I... didn't..." she started, but couldn't finish.
Like Keith, it wasn't helpful. 'Didn't' what? Mean to? Want to? Want to be here? Trust you? But she kept the grip on the sword tight. Maybe it was better to finish the job, maybe he was still capable of attacking.
She didn't know anymore.
Keith collapsed to the floor. A fresh feeling of nausea hit as Emma realized. She hit him. She had no idea how bad it was, but the dim beam cast by his dropped flashlight showed that there was a lot of red seeping from the blow. Emma knew a cut like that could be dangerous. Depending on how deep it was, it could cause an infection, or organ damage. It could cause shock, too. Point was, Keith was injured, and worse, Emma wasn't sure how bad it was.
And worse still? She had no idea what to do about it. On one hand, he was acting suspicious and unhelpful. On the other, he was still hurt, and she was the one who did it. Emma stared at the wound, her eyes wide open. Could she apply first aid? Could she make him leave, even with his injury? Could she even... finish the job?
That feeling came back. It reminded her of Mabes, of the seagull, of Alessio. Emma gulped. Her throat felt a little dry.
She took another step backwards. Her eyes flicked to the sword, still in her hands. It gleamed a matching dark red in the dim light. Her heart pounded in her ears, her breathing seemed to go faster and faster. She'd attacked him, but she had no idea where to go from here.
"I... didn't..." she started, but couldn't finish.
Like Keith, it wasn't helpful. 'Didn't' what? Mean to? Want to? Want to be here? Trust you? But she kept the grip on the sword tight. Maybe it was better to finish the job, maybe he was still capable of attacking.
She didn't know anymore.
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Courtography
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He heard her say something but couldn't make out what. It was hard to focus on much externally besides the pain. A long moment passed. No further blows came.
His first move was slow and tentative. Keith's arms slowly pushed him halfway up, before his knees came forward so he could try to stand. It was sticky on the floor beneath him. He didn't want to think about why.
With a louder groan of pain he got to his feet and he wanted to just lie down again, but he had to go before Emma decided to attack again.
With every step causing a shock of pain through his whole body he limped out of the room.
His face was wet. He didn't know why.
(Keith Bauer continued in Staredown)
His first move was slow and tentative. Keith's arms slowly pushed him halfway up, before his knees came forward so he could try to stand. It was sticky on the floor beneath him. He didn't want to think about why.
With a louder groan of pain he got to his feet and he wanted to just lie down again, but he had to go before Emma decided to attack again.
With every step causing a shock of pain through his whole body he limped out of the room.
His face was wet. He didn't know why.
(Keith Bauer continued in Staredown)
Emma said nothing. Did nothing. Only watched as Keith pulled himself away. He struggled to get up, and slowly limped away. He left a trail of blood in his wake. Emma's eyes locked on it instead, still feeling herself shake.
She attacked someone.
Was it an accident?
Did it matter?
Could she have followed him out? Finish the job so he didn't have to die in pain? Do what she could do help him? But he could have attacked her, didn't he? He reached out for the blade. He could have done worse. Much worse. She doubted many people here were safe to be around. For all she knew, she was right, and he had a weapon or something. But she'd still attacked him, didn't he?
Emma felt dizzy. She sat down, placing the sword next to her.
Once again, she didn't try to fight it. She slid to the floor, her limbs going loose, limp, and numb.
"Good morning all of you that are still alive and welcome to day ten of your adventure here!"
Emma lifted her head from the table with a groan. Day ten. It'd only been ten days. It felt like years. But it was actually just over a week. It was weird to think of it like that. As she rubbed her face, the announcement continued.
Dorothy and Jae had struck again. Two girls for Dorothy, one boy for Jae. The boy who Jae killed, he was the one who... eliminated Jaime, wasn't he? Emma wasn't sure how to feel about that.
She wasn't sure how to feel about another thing. Dorothy died afterwards. It was like God had come down and decided she had to die. Emma still hated her. Her and Jae. In a sick way, her choking was justice. It didn't make up for Lily, though. Even if Lily had-
Emma clenched her fists.
One more thing. Alessio was dead, too. Apparently, he shot someone, but he got stabbed in turn. It had to have happened after she left. It wasn't Serena or Matt, though. It was two completely different people. Emma had no idea what happened exactly after she left, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to know.
The announcement clicked off.
Emma sat at the table, still trying to process the information. Then, she whispered those words for what felt like the thousandth time.
"Whatever happens, happens."
She closed her eyes. She opened them again when she realized something.
Keith wasn't on the announcement. That meant that he was still alive, wasn't he? Emma's eyes darted to her first aid kit. She'd taken it earlier. Maybe an hour ago? She didn't really know how quickly time passed here. She'd cleaned the sword, but she didn't clean up the blood on the floor. To be honest, she wasn't sure if she could. A few times, she was uncertain whether the encounter with Keith really happened. It was strange, but it felt a bit like cleaning it would be removing the proof that it happened. But it did, didn't it? She felt the blade go in.
She touched her forehead again. Still dizzy.
Aiden Slattery
Alice Baker
Enzo
Ty Yazzie?
Danny Brooks
Brendan Harte
GLD ; )
Bernadette
Kiziah Saraki
Lili Williams
Penelope
Ben
Raina
Emma's hands touched the names. She recognized all of them. It wasn't at all old. Someone carved them in, but for what purpose, she had no idea. But it was a list of classmates. Emma was sure of it. A hit list? No, didn't look like it. Well, maybe it was. The last few names seemed "fresher," like they had been carved into the wood somewhat later. Some of them had been crossed out, too.
She remembered Danny. It felt like a dream, or someone else's memory, but she remembered that Health class, with him, Jeremy, and Haley. Was Haley here? Emma had no idea, and it was another question she didn't want to know the answer to. She distantly remembered that Danny had died a few days ago. How did it happen? Isabel? Or was it Nancy? Or Kimiko? Did it matter?
A short while later, she found the posters. They were hard to miss, even if she did earlier. The word "SEX," along with the bright colors, drew the eye a bit. There were about ten of them, some barely visible outside, two hanging on the walls inside. Some of them were more crude and childish, others were more organized, for lack of a better phrasing.
Emma stared at one that'd been hung on the wall. By the looks of it, it was a list of rules. Alessio had said this was a safe zone, didn't he? She didn't believe him, since she knew what he'd done. Did he really put this much effort into a ruse like this? Carve names, make posters? Or... was he telling the truth? There really was a group of people here, who were... safe? But was that even possible at this point? And why would he tell her about that?
Her eyes flicked towards the puddle of blood. Keith's blood, probably. There appeared to be more elsewhere, but she wasn't certain it was his. It seemed older. Keith's, however, still shown in the dim lighting. She walked over, kneeled, and placed her fingertips on top of it in thought. When she lifted her hand back up, her fingertips came up red with coagulating blood.
She remembered that, a long time ago, there'd been a puddle of blood on the floor of the wards. Was it when they first got here? Maybe. Lucilly had run away, and Amanda had to find her. So, it'd been just her and Jaime, talking and looking out for the injured person.
"We never found out whose blood that was," she whispered to herself.
It was such a long time ago. It was funny she was thinking of that, now. Maybe the whole image of fresh blood brought the whole thing back. Emma stared at her dripping fingers, then looked back at the table with the names on it, then the posters.
A raw feeling came up in her stomach. Emma stood up. She suddenly didn't feel comfortable being here anymore. She wasn't sure why. Maybe it was the blood, the posters, the names. But it reminded her of something she didn't like.
Emma wiped the blood off on her jeans, and walked over to her bag. She slammed the first aid kit into it, and with a few tries, zipped the bag back up. The strap went over her shoulder, and the sword went into her hands. She slammed open the doors she'd come in from. The body was still there. Despite better judgement, she turned her head to look at it.
Her. Kiziah. Kizi. Emma's features softened. She hadn't realized her features had been hardened. She was a nice girl, wasn't she? They'd been friendly. Her name was one of the ones listed. Had the game changed her, too? Probably. She might not have been as nice as she was back home. A new thought clicked. Was this Kizi's idea? Someone else's? Again, why would Alessio tell her about it?
Emma leaned forward to take a better look at her, then looked away. Slowly, she stepped further into the hallway. For a moment, she looked back at Kizi. Still motionless, still dead. Emma looked past her, and snapped her head forward.
She could have sworn that she saw a familiar pair of yellow eyes in the darkness.
((Emma Luz continued in Deep Below Ground, Where Memories Sleep))
She attacked someone.
Was it an accident?
Did it matter?
Could she have followed him out? Finish the job so he didn't have to die in pain? Do what she could do help him? But he could have attacked her, didn't he? He reached out for the blade. He could have done worse. Much worse. She doubted many people here were safe to be around. For all she knew, she was right, and he had a weapon or something. But she'd still attacked him, didn't he?
Emma felt dizzy. She sat down, placing the sword next to her.
Once again, she didn't try to fight it. She slid to the floor, her limbs going loose, limp, and numb.
"Good morning all of you that are still alive and welcome to day ten of your adventure here!"
Emma lifted her head from the table with a groan. Day ten. It'd only been ten days. It felt like years. But it was actually just over a week. It was weird to think of it like that. As she rubbed her face, the announcement continued.
Dorothy and Jae had struck again. Two girls for Dorothy, one boy for Jae. The boy who Jae killed, he was the one who... eliminated Jaime, wasn't he? Emma wasn't sure how to feel about that.
She wasn't sure how to feel about another thing. Dorothy died afterwards. It was like God had come down and decided she had to die. Emma still hated her. Her and Jae. In a sick way, her choking was justice. It didn't make up for Lily, though. Even if Lily had-
Emma clenched her fists.
One more thing. Alessio was dead, too. Apparently, he shot someone, but he got stabbed in turn. It had to have happened after she left. It wasn't Serena or Matt, though. It was two completely different people. Emma had no idea what happened exactly after she left, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to know.
The announcement clicked off.
Emma sat at the table, still trying to process the information. Then, she whispered those words for what felt like the thousandth time.
"Whatever happens, happens."
She closed her eyes. She opened them again when she realized something.
Keith wasn't on the announcement. That meant that he was still alive, wasn't he? Emma's eyes darted to her first aid kit. She'd taken it earlier. Maybe an hour ago? She didn't really know how quickly time passed here. She'd cleaned the sword, but she didn't clean up the blood on the floor. To be honest, she wasn't sure if she could. A few times, she was uncertain whether the encounter with Keith really happened. It was strange, but it felt a bit like cleaning it would be removing the proof that it happened. But it did, didn't it? She felt the blade go in.
She touched her forehead again. Still dizzy.
Aiden Slattery
Alice Baker
Enzo
Ty Yazzie?
Danny Brooks
Brendan Harte
GLD ; )
Bernadette
Kiziah Saraki
Lili Williams
Penelope
Ben
Raina
Emma's hands touched the names. She recognized all of them. It wasn't at all old. Someone carved them in, but for what purpose, she had no idea. But it was a list of classmates. Emma was sure of it. A hit list? No, didn't look like it. Well, maybe it was. The last few names seemed "fresher," like they had been carved into the wood somewhat later. Some of them had been crossed out, too.
She remembered Danny. It felt like a dream, or someone else's memory, but she remembered that Health class, with him, Jeremy, and Haley. Was Haley here? Emma had no idea, and it was another question she didn't want to know the answer to. She distantly remembered that Danny had died a few days ago. How did it happen? Isabel? Or was it Nancy? Or Kimiko? Did it matter?
A short while later, she found the posters. They were hard to miss, even if she did earlier. The word "SEX," along with the bright colors, drew the eye a bit. There were about ten of them, some barely visible outside, two hanging on the walls inside. Some of them were more crude and childish, others were more organized, for lack of a better phrasing.
Emma stared at one that'd been hung on the wall. By the looks of it, it was a list of rules. Alessio had said this was a safe zone, didn't he? She didn't believe him, since she knew what he'd done. Did he really put this much effort into a ruse like this? Carve names, make posters? Or... was he telling the truth? There really was a group of people here, who were... safe? But was that even possible at this point? And why would he tell her about that?
Her eyes flicked towards the puddle of blood. Keith's blood, probably. There appeared to be more elsewhere, but she wasn't certain it was his. It seemed older. Keith's, however, still shown in the dim lighting. She walked over, kneeled, and placed her fingertips on top of it in thought. When she lifted her hand back up, her fingertips came up red with coagulating blood.
She remembered that, a long time ago, there'd been a puddle of blood on the floor of the wards. Was it when they first got here? Maybe. Lucilly had run away, and Amanda had to find her. So, it'd been just her and Jaime, talking and looking out for the injured person.
"We never found out whose blood that was," she whispered to herself.
It was such a long time ago. It was funny she was thinking of that, now. Maybe the whole image of fresh blood brought the whole thing back. Emma stared at her dripping fingers, then looked back at the table with the names on it, then the posters.
A raw feeling came up in her stomach. Emma stood up. She suddenly didn't feel comfortable being here anymore. She wasn't sure why. Maybe it was the blood, the posters, the names. But it reminded her of something she didn't like.
Emma wiped the blood off on her jeans, and walked over to her bag. She slammed the first aid kit into it, and with a few tries, zipped the bag back up. The strap went over her shoulder, and the sword went into her hands. She slammed open the doors she'd come in from. The body was still there. Despite better judgement, she turned her head to look at it.
Her. Kiziah. Kizi. Emma's features softened. She hadn't realized her features had been hardened. She was a nice girl, wasn't she? They'd been friendly. Her name was one of the ones listed. Had the game changed her, too? Probably. She might not have been as nice as she was back home. A new thought clicked. Was this Kizi's idea? Someone else's? Again, why would Alessio tell her about it?
Emma leaned forward to take a better look at her, then looked away. Slowly, she stepped further into the hallway. For a moment, she looked back at Kizi. Still motionless, still dead. Emma looked past her, and snapped her head forward.
She could have sworn that she saw a familiar pair of yellow eyes in the darkness.
((Emma Luz continued in Deep Below Ground, Where Memories Sleep))