Of course Rhonda saw her.
Quinn had no interest in this conversation, aggrandization, confrontation. There was nothing she had to say to Rhonda and as much as it might surprise her to know, nothing Rhonda had to say to her. That left any interaction between the two of them completely pointless, a waste of time and energy that Quinn could be expending on any number of other things. And if Rhonda really had, she didn't know, sworn vengeance for some reason or another, that gave her even more of a reason not to be present. More of a headache than it was worth, same as Shauna.
Her foot slipped on the wet surface below and she threw out a hand to stablise herself, catching on the wall of the building to save herself from faceplanting into the mud. By the time she regained her balance and started to move again, one quick glance over her shoulder confirmed it. Rhonda had caught up.
"...we must try until it kills us."
Private; afternoon of Day 2 (CW: Discussion of sexual assault and self-harm)
Quinn was running.
That was bad, but not incriminating. Maybe she though Rhonda would judge her, was assuming it was malicious when it wasn't. But she was wrong. Rhonda didn't even care. Okay, she did if Quinn was doing it on purpose. She cared a lot, actually. But she wouldn't know until she asked, and that was all she wanted right now. She just wanted to know.
"Quinn, stop, it's okay!" Rhonda shouted, unexpectedly out of breath as she saw Quinn slip and fall. She followed, quick as she could, taking care to avoid skidding in the mud as well. She stopped, hands out in front of her, like she was trying to calm a scared animal. Maybe it wasn't that different. She didn't want to hurt Quinn.
"Quinn, what...why..."
She didn't know how to say it. "Sorry."
That was bad, but not incriminating. Maybe she though Rhonda would judge her, was assuming it was malicious when it wasn't. But she was wrong. Rhonda didn't even care. Okay, she did if Quinn was doing it on purpose. She cared a lot, actually. But she wouldn't know until she asked, and that was all she wanted right now. She just wanted to know.
"Quinn, stop, it's okay!" Rhonda shouted, unexpectedly out of breath as she saw Quinn slip and fall. She followed, quick as she could, taking care to avoid skidding in the mud as well. She stopped, hands out in front of her, like she was trying to calm a scared animal. Maybe it wasn't that different. She didn't want to hurt Quinn.
"Quinn, what...why..."
She didn't know how to say it. "Sorry."
Quinn would have kept moving, but that one final word alone stopped her in her tracks.
Sorry? What on earth was Rhonda sorry for? So typical of her to apologise for absolutely nothing. Two days of this hadn't changed her in the slightest. Quinn didn't know if she expected nor hoped otherwise. ...Not especially on either count.
"I don't feel like talking, Rhonda."
She resumed walking. She shouldn't have bothered stopping.
Sorry? What on earth was Rhonda sorry for? So typical of her to apologise for absolutely nothing. Two days of this hadn't changed her in the slightest. Quinn didn't know if she expected nor hoped otherwise. ...Not especially on either count.
"I don't feel like talking, Rhonda."
She resumed walking. She shouldn't have bothered stopping.
She was just going to leave and Rhonda wasn't going to be able to stop her and she was just going to die never knowing at least this little bit about her friend. Because she was useless.
...No.
Rhonda didn't want her to go. She didn't know what else to do about it but grab Quinn by the shoulder. So she did that. She reached out and touched her, because...because she did. She didn't know why.
"Quinn you're my friend I just want to understand-"
...No.
Rhonda didn't want her to go. She didn't know what else to do about it but grab Quinn by the shoulder. So she did that. She reached out and touched her, because...because she did. She didn't know why.
"Quinn you're my friend I just want to understand-"
Quinn violently jerked forward, breaking Rhonda's grip. Her entire face tautened into a mask of anger and she snapped back over her shoulder, glaring.
"There's nothing to understand. They don't matter."
An answer, plain as she cared to make it. That had better satisfy her; it was as much as she was getting.
Quinn pulled her hoodie most of the way back up her arm where the motion had dislodged it, then returned her hand to her pocket. She'd tolerated Rhonda as a teammate, but she had no incentive and no patience to do so any longer.
"There's nothing to understand. They don't matter."
An answer, plain as she cared to make it. That had better satisfy her; it was as much as she was getting.
Quinn pulled her hoodie most of the way back up her arm where the motion had dislodged it, then returned her hand to her pocket. She'd tolerated Rhonda as a teammate, but she had no incentive and no patience to do so any longer.
Rhonda flinched as Quinn ripped away from her, furiously so. Her eyes widened.
She didn't understand. She didn't understand 'they don't matter'. The people she killed? Was that what it was? How could she say that? Rhonda couldn't believe it. Quinn wasn't a monster, was she? She couldn't, she wasn't, she wasn't some kind of psychopath who didn't care about other people, was she? Quiet, sure, but...
Rhonda stepped forward. She stepped in front of Quinn. Until she got a real answer, she wasn't going to give up. She was frustrated now, frustrated and afraid.
"Quinn, that's insane. Violet, Danny-"
She didn't understand. She didn't understand 'they don't matter'. The people she killed? Was that what it was? How could she say that? Rhonda couldn't believe it. Quinn wasn't a monster, was she? She couldn't, she wasn't, she wasn't some kind of psychopath who didn't care about other people, was she? Quiet, sure, but...
Rhonda stepped forward. She stepped in front of Quinn. Until she got a real answer, she wasn't going to give up. She was frustrated now, frustrated and afraid.
"Quinn, that's insane. Violet, Danny-"
Rhonda blocked her way once more and Quinn's simmering anger boiled over. Pest. Frustrating, pointless, pest.
Her hand tore free of her hoodie's pouch pocket, a wooden shiv clenched in her fist. Quinn swung backhanded, burying the jagged point into the side of Rhonda's neck. The impact, a wet smack, tearing flesh, a spurt of blood. For an instant, she was flying high on a euphoric wave, electric, heart racing. Everything felt a thousand times sharper, more real.
Then she came crashing down to earth. Rhonda. The others on the island. The team. Instant sobriety for her impulsive gratification.
"Idiot," she hissed. "Look what you made me do." Quinn dropped her rifle to give Rhonda a double-handed shove to both shoulders. "Stupid. Stupid. Stupid." she spat. Quinn stooped, retrieving the weapon, and then stalked past her sputtering, choking, dying former teammate.
Trust Rhonda to drain all the fun out of things.
((Quinn continued in Someone Get Me Off This Merry-Go-Round Called Life))
Her hand tore free of her hoodie's pouch pocket, a wooden shiv clenched in her fist. Quinn swung backhanded, burying the jagged point into the side of Rhonda's neck. The impact, a wet smack, tearing flesh, a spurt of blood. For an instant, she was flying high on a euphoric wave, electric, heart racing. Everything felt a thousand times sharper, more real.
Then she came crashing down to earth. Rhonda. The others on the island. The team. Instant sobriety for her impulsive gratification.
"Idiot," she hissed. "Look what you made me do." Quinn dropped her rifle to give Rhonda a double-handed shove to both shoulders. "Stupid. Stupid. Stupid." she spat. Quinn stooped, retrieving the weapon, and then stalked past her sputtering, choking, dying former teammate.
Trust Rhonda to drain all the fun out of things.
((Quinn continued in Someone Get Me Off This Merry-Go-Round Called Life))
Stupid.
She was stupid. Stupid for believing in Quinn, stupid for trying to talk to her, stupid for leaving the house, stupid for leaving Meka, stupid for going on the trip.
Rhonda gagged, the taste of blood overwhelmed by the pain. She tried to reach out towards Quinn, she didn't know why, but she lost balance, disoriented, and fell onto the mud.
She was dying. The thought hit her like another stab wound. How many people were seeing this? Sam, Aleks, Luca, her family. She saw Meka too, running towards her. He was going to have to watch her die, and it was because she'd fucked up. She managed to roll over, a gurgling sound as she tried to gasp in pain through the liquid filling her mouth and lungs.
Rhonda wanted to reach up, cover the blood on her throat, her face, smeared all over her entire body. Her arms were weak, numb, from blood loss most likely. She wanted to sit up, to try and do something, anything to make it stop. She couldn't feel the wound anymore, and she couldn't breathe either. Darkness like death edged around her eyes, and she squeezed them shut so it would feel like she was just falling asleep. It didn't help.
Flat on her back, unable to clench her fists. She could hear Meka's footsteps, getting quieter even as he got closer. She was scared, and in pain, and ashamed. She didn't really know what she wanted anymore. To make it stop, to get it over with, and it was so close now she knew she didn't have much time left anyway.
So she died quietly. With regrets, naturally. Meka deserved better. The other girls, Quinn excluded apparently, deserved better. Hell, she deserved better. She regretted dying of course, for so many reasons, for and anyone who might still care.
'Sorry.' She wanted to say.
But she couldn't even do that.
G033 Rhonda Lawson: Deceased
134 students remaining
She was stupid. Stupid for believing in Quinn, stupid for trying to talk to her, stupid for leaving the house, stupid for leaving Meka, stupid for going on the trip.
Rhonda gagged, the taste of blood overwhelmed by the pain. She tried to reach out towards Quinn, she didn't know why, but she lost balance, disoriented, and fell onto the mud.
She was dying. The thought hit her like another stab wound. How many people were seeing this? Sam, Aleks, Luca, her family. She saw Meka too, running towards her. He was going to have to watch her die, and it was because she'd fucked up. She managed to roll over, a gurgling sound as she tried to gasp in pain through the liquid filling her mouth and lungs.
Rhonda wanted to reach up, cover the blood on her throat, her face, smeared all over her entire body. Her arms were weak, numb, from blood loss most likely. She wanted to sit up, to try and do something, anything to make it stop. She couldn't feel the wound anymore, and she couldn't breathe either. Darkness like death edged around her eyes, and she squeezed them shut so it would feel like she was just falling asleep. It didn't help.
Flat on her back, unable to clench her fists. She could hear Meka's footsteps, getting quieter even as he got closer. She was scared, and in pain, and ashamed. She didn't really know what she wanted anymore. To make it stop, to get it over with, and it was so close now she knew she didn't have much time left anyway.
So she died quietly. With regrets, naturally. Meka deserved better. The other girls, Quinn excluded apparently, deserved better. Hell, she deserved better. She regretted dying of course, for so many reasons, for and anyone who might still care.
'Sorry.' She wanted to say.
But she couldn't even do that.
G033 Rhonda Lawson: Deceased
134 students remaining
"Rhonda? Rhonda?" Meka called out in a hushed whisper.
He didn't know where Rhonda went, other than that she went somewhere in this labyrinth of houses. He had no clue where she or anyone else was, so he moved cautiously, looking for any sign of her. He clutched the awkwardly-tied bow in his hand. He really hoped she was okay.
It was after he turned down one path that he saw Rhonda lying on the ground.
"Rhonda!" he cried out as he ran over to her.
As he ran over, he suddenly came to a slow crawl. There was blood. Rhonda had been stabbed in the neck, and now she was bleeding out on the ground.
"Oh god. No no no no, Rhonda, no please god no," he said, crouching down.
Rhonda was gargling blood, something Meka winced at the sight of. In an instant, she stopped moving. Meka could feel his breathing getting ragged. She was gone. Just another person senselessly murdered and left to die in the open. Meka looked around the area. Quinn was gone, but it had to be her, right? Rhonda was going after Quinn, and now she was dead. Quinn now had at least three deaths to her name.
Meka hung his head low and let out a long cry. He could feel tears streaking his face as he lifted Rhonda's head up and laid it on his lap.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," he muttered. "I should have been faster. Oh god, Rhonda, I'm so sorry."
Meka sniffled and wiped his eyes. This wasn't right. Rhonda couldn't be here. She couldn't just be left here. She deserved better than that.
"Hang on, Rhonda," Meka said, setting the bow down. "We're going home."
Meka unwrapped the hoodie from around his waist and tried to cover Rhonda's upper torso with it. He made sure to wrap it around her wound, anything to cover the wound. It wouldn't be enough, but it'd at least help for now. He moved the bow onto her body and folder her arms over it. He'd need her to look after it while he took care of her.
After a few grunts, Meka stood up, holding Rhonda's body in his arms. Meka looked around the area. There didn't appear to be anyone else in the area, but that didn't mean people weren't watching him. He closed his eyes, sighed, and then spoke.
"Rhonda Lawson!" he shouted. "Say her name! Rhonda Lawson! Say her name! Rhonda Lawson! Say her name! Say her name! Say her name!"
Meka adjusted Rhonda, then walked away. He had to get her out of the rain, back to the house. When Dolly and Marceline returned, he needed to tell them about Quinn. He needed them to see what Quinn did to Rhonda. He needed them to know he was done pondering.
He was ready to break this game.
((Meka Gibson continued in Even Jesus got his crown in front of a crowd))
He didn't know where Rhonda went, other than that she went somewhere in this labyrinth of houses. He had no clue where she or anyone else was, so he moved cautiously, looking for any sign of her. He clutched the awkwardly-tied bow in his hand. He really hoped she was okay.
It was after he turned down one path that he saw Rhonda lying on the ground.
"Rhonda!" he cried out as he ran over to her.
As he ran over, he suddenly came to a slow crawl. There was blood. Rhonda had been stabbed in the neck, and now she was bleeding out on the ground.
"Oh god. No no no no, Rhonda, no please god no," he said, crouching down.
Rhonda was gargling blood, something Meka winced at the sight of. In an instant, she stopped moving. Meka could feel his breathing getting ragged. She was gone. Just another person senselessly murdered and left to die in the open. Meka looked around the area. Quinn was gone, but it had to be her, right? Rhonda was going after Quinn, and now she was dead. Quinn now had at least three deaths to her name.
Meka hung his head low and let out a long cry. He could feel tears streaking his face as he lifted Rhonda's head up and laid it on his lap.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," he muttered. "I should have been faster. Oh god, Rhonda, I'm so sorry."
Meka sniffled and wiped his eyes. This wasn't right. Rhonda couldn't be here. She couldn't just be left here. She deserved better than that.
"Hang on, Rhonda," Meka said, setting the bow down. "We're going home."
Meka unwrapped the hoodie from around his waist and tried to cover Rhonda's upper torso with it. He made sure to wrap it around her wound, anything to cover the wound. It wouldn't be enough, but it'd at least help for now. He moved the bow onto her body and folder her arms over it. He'd need her to look after it while he took care of her.
After a few grunts, Meka stood up, holding Rhonda's body in his arms. Meka looked around the area. There didn't appear to be anyone else in the area, but that didn't mean people weren't watching him. He closed his eyes, sighed, and then spoke.
"Rhonda Lawson!" he shouted. "Say her name! Rhonda Lawson! Say her name! Rhonda Lawson! Say her name! Say her name! Say her name!"
Meka adjusted Rhonda, then walked away. He had to get her out of the rain, back to the house. When Dolly and Marceline returned, he needed to tell them about Quinn. He needed them to see what Quinn did to Rhonda. He needed them to know he was done pondering.
He was ready to break this game.
((Meka Gibson continued in Even Jesus got his crown in front of a crowd))