Wandering
Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2018 5:43 am
((James Wade continued from Oh Dear))
James had gotten himself very lost.
He'd been walking for a while now, and the odd silence of the woods was starting to get to him. He was used to being alone, having taken many solitary biking journeys into the countryside before, but he couldn't shake the feeling of unease as he trudged forward, leaves crunching underfoot. Then again, feeling a bit uneasy was to be expected, considering what they had been told. Though he had very few friends in school, the thought of actually killing someone sickened him. Probably because of how it would end.
There can only be one. He'd never much liked the Highlander films, though immortality wouldn't be bad considering the situation they'd been placed in.
James sighed, and glanced to his left, catching sight of a man-made sign pinned to a post not far away. He made his way towards it, keeping an eye out for any sign of his classmates; not that his board game would do very much against someone armed with a gun. Or a knife. Or a big stick, really. It was an arrow, painted black and yellow. It seemed to be pointing along a narrow dirt path that presumably led to somewhere that wasn't this accursed forest.
Well, better than wandering around these bloody trees all day.
Checking the path behind him to make sure a classmate-turned-killer wasn't stalking him, James kept on, still clutching his useless weapon and wondering how the hell it could possibly come in handy. Chances were that somebody had given him it for shits and giggles. In any case, he'd have to keep an eye out for something to use, though if it came down to it he could use his fists. James was no Muhammad Ali, but he could hold his own pretty well in the training ring.
Great, now I'm making strategies for fighting people I've known for years.
He'd seen the orientation video, same as the others. Other classes had fought to the death just to win this stupid game. People his age backstabbing one another, raping and killing just so they could go home. James moved his fingers over the metal collar fastened around his neck.
There'll be no escape while I've got this thing on, either.
He stopped in the middle of the path, checking behind him once more. He was starting to get a little paranoid.
Need to find shelter, a place to hide. James was well aware that if he hid up here too long, he'd either end up having more panic attacks or have his collar blown. He'd have to make some friends, at the very least. That would probably be harder than he found it back at school. It was one thing to approach a group of his peers in the classroom, and another to walk up to a bunch of people in the middle of the game. He wasn't hated, at least, but he'd never been the most popular guy around. He was just...there.
James shook his head. No point standing around here angsting over shit. I'll have plenty of time for that when I get home.
The dirt trail had obviously been well-used, once. James had probably biked down similar ones back home, and found himself missing his trusty means of transportation. I'd rather have a bike than this box, he thought. Still, there was no one to whine to, so he'd have to keep quiet. The only reason he hadn't chucked the board game into the bushes by now was that he was determined to find some use for the damn thing. Waste not, want not, as his dad used to say.
Following the path was pretty easy. All he had to do was pay attention to the signs and with any luck he'd be out in no time. James wasn't feeling too bad, all things considered. He had a plan, he had supplies, and he had his useless game box. All he had to do was not die and he' d be back home soon enough.
I really, really want to get out of this forest...
James had gotten himself very lost.
He'd been walking for a while now, and the odd silence of the woods was starting to get to him. He was used to being alone, having taken many solitary biking journeys into the countryside before, but he couldn't shake the feeling of unease as he trudged forward, leaves crunching underfoot. Then again, feeling a bit uneasy was to be expected, considering what they had been told. Though he had very few friends in school, the thought of actually killing someone sickened him. Probably because of how it would end.
There can only be one. He'd never much liked the Highlander films, though immortality wouldn't be bad considering the situation they'd been placed in.
James sighed, and glanced to his left, catching sight of a man-made sign pinned to a post not far away. He made his way towards it, keeping an eye out for any sign of his classmates; not that his board game would do very much against someone armed with a gun. Or a knife. Or a big stick, really. It was an arrow, painted black and yellow. It seemed to be pointing along a narrow dirt path that presumably led to somewhere that wasn't this accursed forest.
Well, better than wandering around these bloody trees all day.
Checking the path behind him to make sure a classmate-turned-killer wasn't stalking him, James kept on, still clutching his useless weapon and wondering how the hell it could possibly come in handy. Chances were that somebody had given him it for shits and giggles. In any case, he'd have to keep an eye out for something to use, though if it came down to it he could use his fists. James was no Muhammad Ali, but he could hold his own pretty well in the training ring.
Great, now I'm making strategies for fighting people I've known for years.
He'd seen the orientation video, same as the others. Other classes had fought to the death just to win this stupid game. People his age backstabbing one another, raping and killing just so they could go home. James moved his fingers over the metal collar fastened around his neck.
There'll be no escape while I've got this thing on, either.
He stopped in the middle of the path, checking behind him once more. He was starting to get a little paranoid.
Need to find shelter, a place to hide. James was well aware that if he hid up here too long, he'd either end up having more panic attacks or have his collar blown. He'd have to make some friends, at the very least. That would probably be harder than he found it back at school. It was one thing to approach a group of his peers in the classroom, and another to walk up to a bunch of people in the middle of the game. He wasn't hated, at least, but he'd never been the most popular guy around. He was just...there.
James shook his head. No point standing around here angsting over shit. I'll have plenty of time for that when I get home.
The dirt trail had obviously been well-used, once. James had probably biked down similar ones back home, and found himself missing his trusty means of transportation. I'd rather have a bike than this box, he thought. Still, there was no one to whine to, so he'd have to keep quiet. The only reason he hadn't chucked the board game into the bushes by now was that he was determined to find some use for the damn thing. Waste not, want not, as his dad used to say.
Following the path was pretty easy. All he had to do was pay attention to the signs and with any luck he'd be out in no time. James wasn't feeling too bad, all things considered. He had a plan, he had supplies, and he had his useless game box. All he had to do was not die and he' d be back home soon enough.
I really, really want to get out of this forest...