((Continued from The Will to Live))
The faint sound of water dribbling down from the fountain seemed to be the only noise eminating from the entire park. Even the crickets weren't chirping. Whitney Acosta shivered slightly as she and Ricky Callahan made their way through the area. The sounds of their footsteps crunching along through the grass were the only audible noises she'd heard in quite a while.
"It's so quiet..." she whispered, almost afraid that the sound of her voice reverberating through the silence would cause the corpses around her to spring to life.
When this game -- Survival of the Fittest -- first started, over one hundred students from four different schools had been placed on this island to fight for survival. Now, only a handful of those students remained. Up until now, she hadn't been reminded of that fact. Now, though, walking through the desolate park, the mutilated corpses of the dead sprawled around the area served as a horrific reminder.
The sole of Ricky's shoe implanted itself in the grass and the screeching caw that reverberated throughout the park caused Whitney to shriek in fear. In front of them, a large black crow flew away from the body it had been feasting on. Ricky shook his head, stamping his foot on the ground once more and sending the remainder of the flock off into the air.
"Dear God..." Whitney uttered, her trail of vision fixating on the half-eaten body that lay in front of her.
Ricky looked at the corpse in disgust and continued to move on, but Whitney stood still, fixating on the body. Even though the body had been picked over, chunks of flesh stripped clean off the bone in places, she could still -- just barely -- identify the body.
"Beth..."
The bolt from a crossbow stuck out from the center of the girl's forehead and her eyes still opened wide in horror. Her eyes locked in with Beth's for just a moment, and Whitney found herself unable to move. She closed her eyes, but she could still see Beth's, piercing deep into her mind. She wanted to scream, or cry, or throw up, or do something, but all she could do was stand there. Finally, Ricky's voice burst the silence that was slowly suffocating her.
"Come on, we need to keep moving."
"All these people," Whitney choked out shakily, "They all used to be alive... they used to be happy... we used to sit in class and talk and laugh and... and..."
Whitney glanced down at her hands and noticed that she was shaking violently. At this point, she couldn't tell if it was from the cool twilight breeze or fear or simply the mental anguish that the program had put her through. Reluctantly, Ricky's hands wrapped themselves around her arms, and the shaking ceased somewhat. She forced her gaze away from Beth's hafl-eaten corpse, and instead, it fell on another girl's. This one adorned a Gilroy uniform. An unsteady sigh escaped Whitney's lips and she attempted to look past the girl.
"Whitney..." Ricky stated quietly.
"What are we supposed to do?" she whispered hoarsely, "What are we supposed to do? Everyone's dead... dying... only one can win. Only one, Ricky... one..."
Ricky sighed audibly. For what seemed like the entire game, Whitney had been so strong. The game had taken a mental toll on everyone who participated in it, even driving some to insanity before their final moments, and now, standing in the corpse-littered park, Whitney seemed to be reaching her mental breaking point, and there was nothing that he could say or do.
"It's okay..." he muttered calmly, "Everything's gonna be okay."
"How can you be so sure?" she shot back, "Both of us aren't going to survive this, Ricky. We're out of time. We can't escape. We can't do anything. We're going to die."
"No... no, we aren't," he responded, "... I am."
Whitney shot him a questioning look. It wasn't the first time Ricky had said that he'd make sure she'd survive the game, but somehow, Whitney had never thought that it would wind up being an issue of self-sacrifice. It wasn't that she didn't want to go home, but he had fought so hard, throughout the entire game, and if he killed himself so she could live, she just didn't know if she could go on living, knowing what had to be done for her to go back home.
"But why?" she stammered in confusion.
"I love you," he stated simply, "Don't think I'd sacrifice myself for some stupid high school crush. You're... worth it, though."
"How can you say that?" she chastised, "Nobody should have to die because of me."
"I'm a murderer," he stated coldly, "I killed Eric. And... I'll keep killing. I'll kill everybody I have to, and when they're all dead, I'll... kill myself, too. Don't think I'm crazy, Whit, because I'm not. I know what I'm saying. I'm already going to hell, I may as well seal my own fate in blood. You shouldn't have to stain your hands too."
"Ricky..."
Whitney backed away a bit, almost afraid that Ricky had completely snapped, but one look at the other contestant's eyes told her that his words were completely genuine, and the pain and sadness that he unintentionally conveyed told her that he knew exactly what he was saying, and he knew what the consequences of his actions would be. Something about that chilled her to the very bone, but she couldn't find the words to speak, and she couldn't have talked him out of it if she'd wanted to.
"You don't have to do this," she finally uttered.
"I know that," he responded, "There's no way I could live with myself outside of this island. I'm not who I used to be... this place, it's changed me. It's done things to me... it's made me do terrible things, and it's just... better... if I don't survive this. I'll get you out of here, if it's the last thing I do..."
His choice of words was ironic, to say the least. Whitney couldn't find the right words to say, so she simply nodded. He seemed so resigned to his fate that it almost made her sad, and her trail of vision once again hit the ground and cast itself in the direction of Beth Ebert. Except, Beth wasn't Beth anymore. All she could see was Ricky, lying there, eaten by wild animals, with a steel bolt embedded in his forehead. The click of the clip being loaded into Ricky's gun shot her back to reality, and she looked at him questioningly.
"What are you doing?" she inquired.
"We're going back to the school," he responded, "They'll be looking for shelter, they won't come to the park."
"We're tracking down the others...?" she asked hesitantly.
"Better us tracking them than them tracking us," he replied with a forelorn smile, "Let's get going."
((Continued at the school.))
Sin
Once a place of tranquility on the island, the park is centered around a large fountain and contains swings, a jungle gym, and see-saws, along with various other childrens' play things. The park serves as somewhat of a dharma in the chaos of SOTF, but soon enough even this tranquil region of the island will be painted red.
Sin
This is an archival account used by staff to port posts belonging to the handler Megami. While this handler hasn't been around in quite a while, should they return and wish to take custody of this account and/or its posts, they are welcome to do so by contacting staff.
Jump to
- Important
- ↳ Announcements
- ↳ Rules & Information
- ↳ New SOTF Main Site
- ↳ SOTF Wiki
- ↳ SOTF Mini
- Additional Games
- ↳ Discord Of The Fittest
- ↳ Discord Of The Fittest Current Game
- ↳ V0 Archive
- Discussion & Support
- ↳ General Discussion
- ↳ Artist's Alley
- ↳ V7 Discussion Archive
- ↳ Roleplaying Discussion
- ↳ Support/Suggestions
- ↳ Critiques
- ↳ Contest Voting
- ↳ Adoption Zone
- ↳ Polls
- ↳ Other Roleplaying
- ↳ V8 Pregame Planning
- ↳ Forum Games
- ↳ Mafia
- ↳ Song Contests
- ↳ V7 Rules, Updates, And Miscellaneous
- The V7 Corner
- ↳ The Version 7 Archive
- ↳ V7 Announcements
- ↳ V7 Student Roster
- ↳ V7 Island
- ↳ The Inner Circle
- ↳ The Manor House
- ↳ Leadership Houses
- ↳ The Gardens
- ↳ The Cliffside
- ↳ The Temple
- ↳ The Memorial Garden
- ↳ The Cliff
- ↳ The Woodlands
- ↳ The Woods
- ↳ Nature's Lookout
- ↳ The Art Exhibition
- ↳ The Shoe Tree
- ↳ The Waterfall
- ↳ Waterfall Overlook
- ↳ Waterfall Cave
- ↳ The Menagerie
- ↳ Aviary
- ↳ Stables
- ↳ Menagerie
- ↳ Serenity Lake
- ↳ The Lake
- ↳ The Serenity Circle
- ↳ The Upper Wilds
- ↳ Upper Wilderness
- ↳ The Rice Paddies
- ↳ The Village
- ↳ East Housing
- ↳ West Housing
- ↳ Infirmary
- ↳ The Commissary
- ↳ The Lower Wilds
- ↳ Lower Wilderness
- ↳ The Beach
- ↳ Bay Area
- ↳ The Bay
- ↳ The Pier
- ↳ Capsized Yacht
- ↳ Ruined Lighthouse
- ↳ V7 Pregame
- ↳ Memories from the Past
- ↳ George Hunter High School
- ↳ Athletics Building
- ↳ Playing Fields
- ↳ Indoor Courts
- ↳ Gym
- ↳ Pool
- ↳ Main Building
- ↳ Computer Labs
- ↳ Science Labs
- ↳ Cafeteria
- ↳ Library
- ↳ Math Department
- ↳ English Department
- ↳ Art Block
- ↳ Music Rooms
- ↳ Auditorium
- ↳ Drama Room
- ↳ Art Rooms
- ↳ Residential Areas
- ↳ The Gated Community
- ↳ Urban Housing
- ↳ North Side
- ↳ Amatore's Bar and Grille
- ↳ 34th Street
- ↳ Off The Record
- ↳ The Blue House Cafe and Diner
- ↳ Downtown
- ↳ Harrison Central Mall
- ↳ Chattanooga Museums
- ↳ The Zoo
- ↳ The Riverbank Aquarium
- ↳ The Riverfront
- ↳ Riverside Trail
- ↳ Foot Bridge
- ↳ Waterfront Recreation Area
- ↳ Around Town
- ↳ Mountain Foothills Park
- ↳ Heritage Military Park
- ↳ Winnepesaukah Caverns
- ↳ Events/Other
- ↳ Outside the City Limits
- ↳ George Hunter High Prom
- ↳ Before Prom
- ↳ Prom
- ↳ After Prom
- ↳ George Hunter High Senior Trip
- ↳ The Hotel
- ↳ The National Mall
- ↳ Around The City
- ↳ V7 Pregame Character Registration
- ↳ V7 Pregame Character Registration
- ↳ V7 Pregame NPC Roster
- ↳ Approved Characters
- ↳ Forfeited and Abandoned Characters
- ↳ V7 Pregame Planning
- ↳ V7 Meanwhile
- The V6 Corner
- ↳ The Version 6 Archive
- ↳ V6 Student Roster
- ↳ The Living
- ↳ The Dead
- ↳ V6 Announcements
- ↳ Intensive Treatment Rooms
- ↳ Lobotomy Lab
- ↳ Electroshock Therapy
- ↳ Water Treatment
- ↳ Regular Treatment Rooms
- ↳ Group Therapy
- ↳ One-on-one Therapy
- ↳ Art Therapy
- ↳ The Wards
- ↳ Regular Wards
- ↳ Intensive Care Wards
- ↳ Solitary Confinement
- ↳ Social Areas
- ↳ The Cafeteria
- ↳ The Asylum Library
- ↳ Peaceful Meadows Crematorium
- ↳ Crematorium Chapel
- ↳ Crematorium Gardens
- ↳ Staff Area
- ↳ Doctors' Offices
- ↳ Staff Lounge
- ↳ Storage Closet
- ↳ Asylum Exterior
- ↳ The Bell Tower
- ↳ The Rooftop
- ↳ The Cove
- ↳ Northwest Cliffs
- ↳ The Supply Depot
- ↳ Docks
- ↳ The Storehouse
- ↳ The Helipad
- ↳ Shoreline
- ↳ The Staff Housing Block
- ↳ The Hunting Cabin
- ↳ The Staff Dormitories A Block
- ↳ The Staff Dormitories B Block
- ↳ The Connecting Bridge
- ↳ Utilities Compound
- ↳ The Warehouse
- ↳ The Radio Tower
- ↳ Vehicle Depot
- ↳ The Slopes
- ↳ Staff Social Areas
- ↳ The Library
- ↳ The Pub
- ↳ The Gym
- ↳ V6 Pregame Archive
- ↳ V6 Pregame Student Roster
- ↳ V6 NPC Roster
- ↳ Cochise High School
- ↳ Beale Library
- ↳ Cafeteria
- ↳ Athletics
- ↳ Grounds
- ↳ East Wing
- ↳ West Wing
- ↳ Historic Downtown
- ↳ Diamondback Ice Cream Parlor
- ↳ Larson's Comics and Games
- ↳ Kingman Museum of Art and History
- ↳ Main Street
- ↳ Cheryl's
- ↳ Around Town
- ↳ Liberty Park
- ↳ Sumac Park
- ↳ Desert Plains Skate Park
- ↳ Strikeout Bowling Alley
- ↳ Mannie's Mini Golf
- ↳ The Neighborhood
- ↳ Events/Other
- ↳ Beyond the Town Border
- ↳ Sadie Hawkins Dance
- ↳ Before the Dance
- ↳ At the Dance
- ↳ After the Dance
- ↳ Memories from the Past
- ↳ V6 Meanwhile...
- The V5 Corner
- ↳ The Version 5 Archive
- ↳ V5 Announcements
- ↳ V5 Student Roster
- ↳ Woodlands
- ↳ The Peak Clearing
- ↳ Forgotten Campsite
- ↳ The Woods
- ↳ Nuclear Plant
- ↳ Parking Garage
- ↳ The Reactors
- ↳ Offices
- ↳ Nuclear Living Site
- ↳ East Living Quarters
- ↳ The Strip
- ↳ West Living Quarters
- ↳ The Airstrip
- ↳ The Terminal
- ↳ The Hangar
- ↳ The Tower
- ↳ Western Beach
- ↳ Dead Man's Grotto
- ↳ Drowned Freighter
- ↳ Shelson's Beach
- ↳ The Inland Lagoon
- ↳ Southern Town
- ↳ The Overpass
- ↳ The Streets
- ↳ Apartment Complexes
- ↳ Northern Town
- ↳ Gated Community
- ↳ The Quad
- ↳ Mansions
- ↳ Central Park
- ↳ Duck Pond
- ↳ Central Park (Endgame)
- ↳ School Buildings
- ↳ The Elementary School
- ↳ School Grounds
- ↳ The High School
- ↳ The Shopping Center
- ↳ Bottom Floor
- ↳ Top Floor
- ↳ Hotel
- ↳ The Lobby
- ↳ The Pools
- ↳ The Lounge
- ↳ Upper Levels
- ↳ The Hospital
- ↳ Patient Care
- ↳ Maternity and Children's
- ↳ Reception and Lobby
- ↳ The Shipping Yard
- ↳ Storage Yard
- ↳ The Docks
- ↳ Loading Dock and Office
- ↳ Eastern Inlet
- ↳ Scenic Overlook
- ↳ Abandoned Harbor
- ↳ Aviary
- ↳ Zen Garden
- ↳ Courtyard
- ↳ Golf Course
- ↳ The Clubhouse
- ↳ The Greens
- ↳ Amusement Park
- ↳ Haunted House
- ↳ Roller Coaster
- ↳ Central Grounds
- ↳ Homestead
- ↳ Dilapidated Barn
- ↳ Greenhouse
- ↳ Wheat Fields
- ↳ Farmhouse
- ↳ Northern Coast
- ↳ The Zipline Attraction
- ↳ Bike Trails
- ↳ The Ropes Course
- ↳ Lighthouse Point
- ↳ The Cove
- ↳ The Lighthouse
- ↳ Captain's Cliffs
- ↳ V5 Pregame Archive
- ↳ V5 Pregame Student Roster
- ↳ V5 NPC Roster
- ↳ Aurora High School
- ↳ Math Hall
- ↳ Social Studies Hall
- ↳ English Hall
- ↳ Electives Hall
- ↳ Library
- ↳ Gymnasium
- ↳ Lunch Room
- ↳ Auditorium
- ↳ Student Center
- ↳ Other Hallways
- ↳ Athletic Fields
- ↳ Parking Lot
- ↳ Campus
- ↳ Science Hall
- ↳ The Castle
- ↳ Batting Cages
- ↳ Go Karts
- ↳ The Maze
- ↳ Castle Interior: Floor One
- ↳ Castle Interior: Floor Two
- ↳ Castle Interior: Floor Three
- ↳ Miniature Golf
- ↳ Lone Pine Mall
- ↳ Eastern End
- ↳ Food Court
- ↳ Movie Theater
- ↳ Western End
- ↳ Around Town
- ↳ The Around the Clock Diner
- ↳ Centennial Park
- ↳ Quik Stop
- ↳ The Neighborhood
- ↳ The Waterfront
- ↳ Events/Other
- ↳ Aurora Prom
- ↳ After Prom
- ↳ Before Prom
- ↳ Prom
- ↳ Memories (The Past)
- ↳ V5 Meanwhile...
- The V4 Corner
- ↳ The Version 4 Archive
- ↳ V4 Announcements
- ↳ V4 Student Roster
- ↳ Arthro Taskforce
- ↳ Town Center
- ↳ The Residential Area
- ↳ The Beach: East
- ↳ The Beach: North
- ↳ Destroyed Cell Phone Tower
- ↳ The Docks
- ↳ The Felled Forest: North
- ↳ The Felled Forest: South
- ↳ The Fun Fair
- ↳ Gazebo
- ↳ The Greens
- ↳ The Groundskeeper's Hut
- ↳ Hall of Mirrors
- ↳ The Infirmary
- ↳ The Key
- ↳ The Lighthouse
- ↳ The Logging Road
- ↳ The Mansion
- ↳ The Mine
- ↳ The Mountain
- ↳ Northern Cliffs
- ↳ The Parish
- ↳ The Ranger Station
- ↳ The Sawmill
- ↳ Southern Cliffs
- ↳ The Swamp
- ↳ The Tunnels
- ↳ The Warehouse
- ↳ The Woods: Coastal
- ↳ The Woods: Inland
- ↳ The Woods: South-Eastern
- ↳ V4 Pregame Archive
- ↳ V4 Pregame Student Roster
- ↳ V4 NPC Roster
- ↳ V4 Abandoned Character Roster
- ↳ Bayview Secondary School
- ↳ Math Wing
- ↳ Gymnasium
- ↳ Library
- ↳ Swimming Pool
- ↳ Drama Room
- ↳ Language Arts Wing
- ↳ The Cafetorium
- ↳ Campus
- ↳ Science Department
- ↳ The Promenade
- ↳ Level One
- ↳ Level Two
- ↳ Level Three
- ↳ The Ice Skating Rink
- ↳ The Food Court
- ↳ The Parking Garage
- ↳ The Back Alley
- ↳ Steve Carlson Arena
- ↳ Lobby
- ↳ Stands
- ↳ Gerry's Pro Shop
- ↳ Dressing Rooms
- ↳ The Ice
- ↳ Around Town (V4)
- ↳ The Varsity
- ↳ Sunset Cinema
- ↳ All-Star Bowling
- ↳ Events
- ↳ Bayview Prom
- ↳ Post-Prom
- ↳ Prom Hall
- ↳ Pre-Prom
- ↳ Memories from the Past (V4)
- ↳ V4 Post-Game
- The V3 Corner
- ↳ The Version 3 Archive
- ↳ V3 Announcements
- ↳ V3 Student Roster
- ↳ Rundown Hospital
- ↳ Small Cottage
- ↳ Overgrown Trail
- ↳ The Mess Hall
- ↳ The Barracks
- ↳ Northern Coast
- ↳ Sea Cliffs
- ↳ The Lagoon
- ↳ The Quarry
- ↳ Lookout Tower
- ↳ Babbling Brook
- ↳ The Marsh
- ↳ Field of Flowers
- ↳ Hollow Tree
- ↳ The Chapel
- ↳ Swinging Bridge
- ↳ The Caves
- ↳ Storehouse
- ↳ The Graveyard
- ↳ Jailhouse
- ↳ The Showers
- ↳ The Jungle
- ↳ Airfield
- ↳ The Plot Twist
- ↳ Proving Grounds
- ↳ The Armory
- ↳ Dilapidated Barracks
- ↳ Jungle
- ↳ The Coastline
- ↳ V3 Pregame Archive
- ↳ V3 Pregame Student Roster
- ↳ V3 NPC Roster
- ↳ Southridge Math Wing
- ↳ Southridge Science Wing
- ↳ Southridge Poly-Sci Wing
- ↳ Southridge English Wing
- ↳ Southridge Library
- ↳ Southridge Cafeteria
- ↳ Southridge Fine Arts Building
- ↳ Southridge Gymnasium
- ↳ Southridge Campus
- ↳ Stonegate Island
- ↳ Oceanview Terrace
- ↳ Village Harbor
- ↳ The Links At Village Harbor
- ↳ Clifton Court
- ↳ Highland Hills Shopping Mall
- ↳ Bryan's Bowl-a-Rama
- ↳ Carmike Cinema
- ↳ Shooters
- ↳ The Beach (V3 Pregame)
- ↳ The City of Highland Beach
- ↳ Memories from the Past (V3)
- The V2 Corner
- ↳ The Version 2 Archive
- ↳ V2 Student Roster
- ↳ V2 Announcements
- ↳ Mountain Ranch
- ↳ The River
- ↳ The Cliffs
- ↳ The Forest
- ↳ Wheat Fields
- ↳ Mansion Ruins
- ↳ The Church
- ↳ The Farmhouse
- ↳ The Lighthouse
- ↳ Western Shore
- ↳ The Pagoda
- ↳ The Mall
- ↳ Residential District
- ↳ School Building
- ↳ The Park
- ↳ Botanical Garden
- ↳ The Hotel
- ↳ Industrial District
- ↳ The Hospital
- ↳ The Expressway
- ↳ Sewer System
- ↳ V2 Pregame Archive
- ↳ V2 Pregame Student Roster
- ↳ Hobbsborough High School
- ↳ P.J. Gilroy Academy
- ↳ Franklyn Senior School
- ↳ Bathurst High School
- ↳ Downtown
- ↳ Central Mall
- ↳ Midway Bowling Alley
- ↳ South 62nd Street
- ↳ Benson's Bar and Grill
- ↳ Performing Arts Center
- ↳ Sweet Bay Coffee
- ↳ Urban Commercial Area
- ↳ Parkway Shopping Plaza
- ↳ The Drive-In
- ↳ Major Taylor Skate Park
- ↳ The Rec Center
- ↳ The Seaside
- ↳ Residential Districts
- ↳ Briarwood Apartment Complex
- ↳ Kensington Heights
- ↳ Tilles Court
- ↳ Carrington Pointe
- ↳ The Past
- ↳ "The Past" Information
- ↳ "The Past" Profiles
- ↳ The Distant Past
- The V1 Corner
- ↳ The Version 1 Archive
- ↳ Announcements
- ↳ V1 Character Roster
- ↳ Makeshift Hospital
- ↳ Helicopter Crash Site
- ↳ Small House
- ↳ Bamboo Coppice
- ↳ Hillside Cliff
- ↳ Dirt Path
- ↳ The Well
- ↳ The River
- ↳ Gazebo
- ↳ Waterfall
- ↳ Lookout Point
- ↳ Eastern Shore
- ↳ The Ravine
- ↳ Old Warehouse
- ↳ Dark Caves
- ↳ School Building
- ↳ The Lighthouse
- ↳ Bathroom Facility
- ↳ The Woods
- ↳ V1 AUs and Discussion