The very thought of throwing away his one and only lifeline made Justin's teeth clench so hard, he swore a molar was going to crack. The muscles in his arms were never that impressive, not by his own standards and certainly not according to his father's, and Meka's words still brought out all the possible definition in them when his arms seized up, tensed up, poised and readied to defend himself if need be. 'Come and take it, Meka', his instincts screamed. His vision: little more than images of bashing somebody else's skull open.
Justin's mouth flapped to speak, but his panic was just beginning to build up, and no sound came out. Mackenzie started to talk first.
It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair.
She believed him. Somebody believed him. He was telling the truth, she should believe him. He felt a little guilty, because maybe he was being too gentle on himself in his truth. She believed him. He didn't believe himself. But he only spoke the truth. Mackenzie knew him? DID Mackenzie know him? They all went to school together, but this wasn't school. Justin felt like he didn't really know anyone anymore. Still she invited him in, and it seemed she was being reasonable enough that... that he really didn't want to attack her. Doing it now would have felt awful, and wrong, because Mackenzie hadn't done a thing against him. She'd even gone to bat for him.
"I..." Justin swallowed. The rain wasn't making this any easier.
He hesitated. He cradled the tire iron closer, no longer holding it up defensively but holding it close. He could only be safe when it was in his hands. But he could only be let inside if he put it in his bag. He wanted to go inside. But he wanted to be safe.
He stood there and, because he didn't know what to do, he did nothing, just looking back and forth at the two.
Even Jesus got his crown in front of a crowd
Open, mid-afternoon Day 3
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MK Kilmarnock
- Posts: 1931
- Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2018 5:28 am
- Location: On one of the coasts, generally
Mackenzie didn't like the idea. Meka could see why, even though he didn't make that wager thinking it would be life-or-death for Justin. If Justin hid it under a bush, it was unlikely anyone else would find it. Still, considering there were people dying all over, Meka could see why people wouldn't want to part with their weapons. Mackenzie probably didn't want to lost the sword. Meka had a lousy weapon, but considering he had kept it by his side over the last three days, maybe he was attached to it until he found something better.
Meka shook his head and sighed.
"Stowing weapons away works too," he said. "Either way, come in if you want."
Meka stepped back into the house. Mackenzie did trust Justin, and if she was close to him, maybe she could see the death of Benedict as an accident. Besides, he needed to gauge Mackenzie and Justin before Dolly and Marceline returned. They had been gone for a while now, so hopefully they'd come back soon.
Meka shook his head and sighed.
"Stowing weapons away works too," he said. "Either way, come in if you want."
Meka stepped back into the house. Mackenzie did trust Justin, and if she was close to him, maybe she could see the death of Benedict as an accident. Besides, he needed to gauge Mackenzie and Justin before Dolly and Marceline returned. They had been gone for a while now, so hopefully they'd come back soon.
Alright, Meka was willing to go along with the plan. This was good. Everything was going to be fine.
Mackenzie smiled and put her own weapon away, zipping the bag back up as Meka went inside. She looked at Justin, standing there with his tire iron held close. She didn’t know what was going through his head, but he was obviously hurting. Whatever the circumstances had been, they were eating him up inside, and he needed love and comfort more than anything right now.
So, heedless of danger, hands empty, she walked up to him, fixed her gaze upon his, and placed her hand on his shoulder.
“Come on,” she said gently, “let’s get inside where it’s dry.”
Could he take advantage of this? Could he brain her where she stood? Certainly. It’d take less than a second. But she’d felt that paranoia creep when she first saw him, felt that kneejerk assumption that everyone was a threat, and staring at this quivering man, she realized that was exactly what they’d wanted. The people who put them here, they wanted everyone to be afraid to show compassion, to show mercy. Yes, she was nervous, concerned that she wasn’t doing the wise thing, but she had to trust, to believe, because otherwise she would be so alone.
And in that case, she might as well be dead.
Mackenzie smiled and put her own weapon away, zipping the bag back up as Meka went inside. She looked at Justin, standing there with his tire iron held close. She didn’t know what was going through his head, but he was obviously hurting. Whatever the circumstances had been, they were eating him up inside, and he needed love and comfort more than anything right now.
So, heedless of danger, hands empty, she walked up to him, fixed her gaze upon his, and placed her hand on his shoulder.
“Come on,” she said gently, “let’s get inside where it’s dry.”
Could he take advantage of this? Could he brain her where she stood? Certainly. It’d take less than a second. But she’d felt that paranoia creep when she first saw him, felt that kneejerk assumption that everyone was a threat, and staring at this quivering man, she realized that was exactly what they’d wanted. The people who put them here, they wanted everyone to be afraid to show compassion, to show mercy. Yes, she was nervous, concerned that she wasn’t doing the wise thing, but she had to trust, to believe, because otherwise she would be so alone.
And in that case, she might as well be dead.
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MK Kilmarnock
- Posts: 1931
- Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2018 5:28 am
- Location: On one of the coasts, generally
She was willing to trust him, even after having her sword pointed at him a minute before. Justin struggled to process it, how she could stay so positive and idealistic when surrounded by all the terrible things going on every hour. The only things offering steady sensory input, the raindrops patting down his hair, served as drums of comfort. The only thing that made sense.
Mackenzie was coming closer now but the sword had been put away. What did she want? The pipe? Would she try, even gently, to pry it free while whispering false soothing nothings like how everything was going to be okay, nobody had to die, all those other falsehoods that he was dead tired of hearing?
She had none of those to offer. She gave nothing more than a touch of the shoulder, and a simple offer: come inside. Come in, out of the rain.
The iron drifted away from his chest, in a couple of wavering sways, before he slowly lowered his arm. He looked at her, uncertain, and quickly averted his gaze.
"Is that alright?"
He started walking.
Mackenzie was coming closer now but the sword had been put away. What did she want? The pipe? Would she try, even gently, to pry it free while whispering false soothing nothings like how everything was going to be okay, nobody had to die, all those other falsehoods that he was dead tired of hearing?
She had none of those to offer. She gave nothing more than a touch of the shoulder, and a simple offer: come inside. Come in, out of the rain.
The iron drifted away from his chest, in a couple of wavering sways, before he slowly lowered his arm. He looked at her, uncertain, and quickly averted his gaze.
"Is that alright?"
He started walking.
Meka made his way over to his issued bag. If he, Mackenzie, and Justin were going to have a peaceful discussion, he better at least hold to his promise of stowing away the bow. That didn't mean that he had to keep it too far away from himself, but at least show he was willing to be diplomatic. It definitely was apparent to Meka that he had to be better than the terrorists expected of him, even if they had a low opinion of him by willfully abducting him and over a hundred other people to die horribly on this island. Maybe Justin was just a scared boy, or maybe he was a murderer-in-waiting, but either way, Meka wasn't going to stoop to that level.
Meka sat down by his bag and pulled it into his lap. He opened it up and stashed the bow right on top. As he did, he reached in and pulled out one of the tins of crackers. It had been a while since he ate anything; seeing someone die took his appetite away. Regardless, he probably needed to eat even if he wasn't that hungry. He half-zipped the bag closed and set it to his side.
As he began to start on the tin of crackers, he looked over to Rhonda's body, then over to the door where Mackenzie and Justin would be coming in. He probably was going to have to explain that to Justin. He just hoped Justin would give him the same benefit of the doubt as Meka was willing to give him. Otherwise, everything was about to go up in smoke before Meka could even try the smoke signal idea that he had floated around yesterday.
Meka sat down by his bag and pulled it into his lap. He opened it up and stashed the bow right on top. As he did, he reached in and pulled out one of the tins of crackers. It had been a while since he ate anything; seeing someone die took his appetite away. Regardless, he probably needed to eat even if he wasn't that hungry. He half-zipped the bag closed and set it to his side.
As he began to start on the tin of crackers, he looked over to Rhonda's body, then over to the door where Mackenzie and Justin would be coming in. He probably was going to have to explain that to Justin. He just hoped Justin would give him the same benefit of the doubt as Meka was willing to give him. Otherwise, everything was about to go up in smoke before Meka could even try the smoke signal idea that he had floated around yesterday.
The walk to the house was short and quiet, with Mackenzie slowly walking alongside Justin; not pushing him, not guiding him along, just following. She hoped that he would eventually trust them enough to put his own weapon away, but she could understand the hesitation. Maybe he'd eventually stow it after he'd gotten the chance to sit comfortably for a while.
She was just happy to get back inside from the rain, so much so that she didn't even remember that there was a body in the corner before she caught sight of the sheets again. That's when the realization hit her about what this probably looked like:
Two people in a house with a corpse, inviting people from the outside to come inside and remove their weapons.
Oh crap.
"Uh, sorry about the body," she rallied, trying to get out an explanation before he did anything rash. "That's Rhonda Lawson. Quinn got her."
Don't freak out. Don't freak out. Everything's fine!
She was just happy to get back inside from the rain, so much so that she didn't even remember that there was a body in the corner before she caught sight of the sheets again. That's when the realization hit her about what this probably looked like:
Two people in a house with a corpse, inviting people from the outside to come inside and remove their weapons.
Oh crap.
"Uh, sorry about the body," she rallied, trying to get out an explanation before he did anything rash. "That's Rhonda Lawson. Quinn got her."
Don't freak out. Don't freak out. Everything's fine!
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MK Kilmarnock
- Posts: 1931
- Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2018 5:28 am
- Location: On one of the coasts, generally
Ice trickled down Justin's spine.
Come to think of it, he hadn't seen a dead body yet. Not like, really had to spend time with one and stare at it. Even with a kill under his belt, he hadn't personally witnessed Benedict die. That's what made his status as a killer feel so detatched still. Ben was still alive the last time he saw him, then he ran off. The speakers could say that he died, but until Justin found the body himself, it was almost like to his heart, his gut, everything except his brain, Benedict lived on. And Ned... he might have seen Ned get shot, but he heard the shot more than anything, and heard all the screaming. But did he see Ned's body, staring up at the sky with empty eyes?
Quinn was there for that, too.
"Uh... that makes sense," Justin mumbled, but he stopped walking for the moment. "I... Quinn. I mean, I saw Quinn. Like... the... in the square, I saw her. Somewhere else, when she shot Ned." Once more he left out all the other details of that encounter. Mackenzie didn't need to know. "I hear her name a lot actually."
He finally looked back at Mackenzie, finding it easier possibly because she was now as nervous and awkward as he was, while still trying to accompany and help him. He didn't know why there was some comfort in that, there just was. He switched which hand held his tire iron, passing it to his side away from Mackenzie in a gesture he hoped made him seem less threatening, though it also prevented her from snatching it away as easily. "I-I-Uh, I don't... don't don't want to look at her though," Justin managed to fumble out after concentrated effort. "Everything's covered, r... yeah? Right?"
Come to think of it, he hadn't seen a dead body yet. Not like, really had to spend time with one and stare at it. Even with a kill under his belt, he hadn't personally witnessed Benedict die. That's what made his status as a killer feel so detatched still. Ben was still alive the last time he saw him, then he ran off. The speakers could say that he died, but until Justin found the body himself, it was almost like to his heart, his gut, everything except his brain, Benedict lived on. And Ned... he might have seen Ned get shot, but he heard the shot more than anything, and heard all the screaming. But did he see Ned's body, staring up at the sky with empty eyes?
Quinn was there for that, too.
"Uh... that makes sense," Justin mumbled, but he stopped walking for the moment. "I... Quinn. I mean, I saw Quinn. Like... the... in the square, I saw her. Somewhere else, when she shot Ned." Once more he left out all the other details of that encounter. Mackenzie didn't need to know. "I hear her name a lot actually."
He finally looked back at Mackenzie, finding it easier possibly because she was now as nervous and awkward as he was, while still trying to accompany and help him. He didn't know why there was some comfort in that, there just was. He switched which hand held his tire iron, passing it to his side away from Mackenzie in a gesture he hoped made him seem less threatening, though it also prevented her from snatching it away as easily. "I-I-Uh, I don't... don't don't want to look at her though," Justin managed to fumble out after concentrated effort. "Everything's covered, r... yeah? Right?"
Meka waited as Mackenzie and Justin came in. Mackenzie took charge and explained Rhonda's body to Justin. Meka glanced over at Rhonda's body, spotting a bit of a stain near where her neck was stabbed. Justin then said he believed Quinn was the killer, since he apparently just saw her kill Ned. Meka didn't entirely know Ned Jackson, but that was someone who hadn't been listed on the announcements, so that must have been quite recent.
"Ned Jackson, say his name," Meka quietly said to himself.
He'd add Ned to the list later.
"But yeah, I tried to wrap her as well as I could," Meka said to Justin.
Meka sighed a bit.
"I wish I could say I was confident in it, but I think this is as well as I could do given the circumstances."
"Ned Jackson, say his name," Meka quietly said to himself.
He'd add Ned to the list later.
"But yeah, I tried to wrap her as well as I could," Meka said to Justin.
Meka sighed a bit.
"I wish I could say I was confident in it, but I think this is as well as I could do given the circumstances."
It was good that Justin understood. Mackenzie didn't know if she'd have been able to deal with any more excitement today. Even now, as the adrenaline was wearing off, she began to feel that same lethargy that she'd felt when the day began. When she'd heard that Ned Jackson was dead, yet another victim of this horrible game, she just felt numb to it. She couldn't muster any more anger after everything else that just happened.
"So many gone. It's..." she just said, trying to lean against a wall, only to slump down to the ground. "Sorry, I've just not been sleeping...well, at all, really."
Her eyes were getting heavy, her only concession being to remove her drenched socks and sneakers and set them to the side. If her bag was still somehow dry, despite everything, she'd have a fresh pair of socks inside waiting for her...whenever she...
She snapped awake again, though she could feel herself drifting already. Everything with Justin had drained what little energy she had left.
"Take your time," she mumbled to Justin, or at least in his general direction. "Stay as long as-" she yawned, "as you like."
In truth, any company, no matter what company, was already a calming effect for her. She'd always slept with the lights on at home, afraid of the dark, afraid of being by herself while her parents were who-knows-where. Mackenzie didn't know if she could trust these people, but what choice did she have? She wasn't going to sleep by herself again, not if she could help it. She could only hope that everything she had was still there when she...
There she went, out like a light. She would have been embarrassed to know that she was snoring.
"So many gone. It's..." she just said, trying to lean against a wall, only to slump down to the ground. "Sorry, I've just not been sleeping...well, at all, really."
Her eyes were getting heavy, her only concession being to remove her drenched socks and sneakers and set them to the side. If her bag was still somehow dry, despite everything, she'd have a fresh pair of socks inside waiting for her...whenever she...
She snapped awake again, though she could feel herself drifting already. Everything with Justin had drained what little energy she had left.
"Take your time," she mumbled to Justin, or at least in his general direction. "Stay as long as-" she yawned, "as you like."
In truth, any company, no matter what company, was already a calming effect for her. She'd always slept with the lights on at home, afraid of the dark, afraid of being by herself while her parents were who-knows-where. Mackenzie didn't know if she could trust these people, but what choice did she have? She wasn't going to sleep by herself again, not if she could help it. She could only hope that everything she had was still there when she...
There she went, out like a light. She would have been embarrassed to know that she was snoring.
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MK Kilmarnock
- Posts: 1931
- Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2018 5:28 am
- Location: On one of the coasts, generally
"W-..."
Justin looked at Mackenzie. She sure did look serene. He envied that about her. If he could, he would grab it away and take it all for himself, her peaceful rest. Instinct told him to find something to park his butt on, just for a little bit. He also wanted to change his clothes, and maybe sneak in a quick prayer about making the rain stop. Surviving the death game could find a way to be snuck in there somewhere.
"Welluhweh, we're doing the best we can, you're doing. You're doing the best you can, right?" Justin said, still looking around the habitat. "It's gotta be... gotta-gotta be hard to sleep in the room with a bod... dead body."
The itching was becoming unbearable.
"Sorry, y- do you mind if I like, change... like, my clothes?"
Justin looked at Mackenzie. She sure did look serene. He envied that about her. If he could, he would grab it away and take it all for himself, her peaceful rest. Instinct told him to find something to park his butt on, just for a little bit. He also wanted to change his clothes, and maybe sneak in a quick prayer about making the rain stop. Surviving the death game could find a way to be snuck in there somewhere.
"Welluhweh, we're doing the best we can, you're doing. You're doing the best you can, right?" Justin said, still looking around the habitat. "It's gotta be... gotta-gotta be hard to sleep in the room with a bod... dead body."
The itching was becoming unbearable.
"Sorry, y- do you mind if I like, change... like, my clothes?"
Meka looked at the two people in the house. They both seemed quite shaken by everything and needed a break. Mackenzie was plopped on the floor just like Claudeson was moments ago. Justin asked to change his clothes.
"Yeah, there's another room over there if you need privacy," Meka told him.
Meka moved over to one of the windows, looking out into the rainy outdoors. He still didn't see a sign of Dolly and Marcy anywhere. He had to hope they managed to avoid Quinn if she was still in the area. That's when he remembered that Justin escaped Quinn before coming there. Quinn could be following him.
He moved over the door they came in and quickly shut it.
"Hey, Mac," he said to Mackenzie. "Can you take a moment to help me block the door?"
"Yeah, there's another room over there if you need privacy," Meka told him.
Meka moved over to one of the windows, looking out into the rainy outdoors. He still didn't see a sign of Dolly and Marcy anywhere. He had to hope they managed to avoid Quinn if she was still in the area. That's when he remembered that Justin escaped Quinn before coming there. Quinn could be following him.
He moved over the door they came in and quickly shut it.
"Hey, Mac," he said to Mackenzie. "Can you take a moment to help me block the door?"
Mackenzie would have volunteered to help, gladly even, if she was still in the land of the living. She was out like a light, her head drooped down and her knees bunched in close to her as she shivered in her wet clothes. The only acknowledgment she gave that Meka’s suggestion had even registered was a bit of muttering and her adjusting from a sitting position to resting on her side, using the bag as a wet pillow.
She didn’t assume she was safe, that nothing would happen to her while she slept, but she wasn’t safe anywhere, and at least here, she was indoors and dry.
She didn’t assume she was safe, that nothing would happen to her while she slept, but she wasn’t safe anywhere, and at least here, she was indoors and dry.
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MK Kilmarnock
- Posts: 1931
- Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2018 5:28 am
- Location: On one of the coasts, generally
Blocking the door? Why were they blocking the door? Was it to trap him inside?
Justin stood with his ear pressed against the door that separated the second room, which for all intents and purposes was a glorified closet with a window, from the first one that had Meka and Mackenzie. He supposed it had Rhonda in it too. The timing just seemed awfully suspicious to him, waiting until he was out of the room. In the other hand, charitable thinking painted a picture of Meka wanting to keep anybody else out. That made sense.
But that was just more of the same strategy that Justin had come to understand wouldn't work. More waiting, silently, never accomplishing anything. Waiting, for somebody to come and kill you. That's all it was. Digging your hole and dying slowly instead of quickly.
But they did let him in. It was never supposed to get this far. If they'd just let their guard down... Meka was the only one moving, it sounded like. Justin shivered, now nude but with the pipe alternately tucked under an arm or between his legs so he never felt fully naked. Getting out of those wet clothes felt nice. Still needed to put on his dry ones, though, and no sense in doing that on wet skin. He could wait an extra minute it or so. Gave him time to think.
Time to decide. What to do. Who to kill. Why to keep killing. Why it was his only way out.
Why he should still be able to look in the mirror after.
Justin stood with his ear pressed against the door that separated the second room, which for all intents and purposes was a glorified closet with a window, from the first one that had Meka and Mackenzie. He supposed it had Rhonda in it too. The timing just seemed awfully suspicious to him, waiting until he was out of the room. In the other hand, charitable thinking painted a picture of Meka wanting to keep anybody else out. That made sense.
But that was just more of the same strategy that Justin had come to understand wouldn't work. More waiting, silently, never accomplishing anything. Waiting, for somebody to come and kill you. That's all it was. Digging your hole and dying slowly instead of quickly.
But they did let him in. It was never supposed to get this far. If they'd just let their guard down... Meka was the only one moving, it sounded like. Justin shivered, now nude but with the pipe alternately tucked under an arm or between his legs so he never felt fully naked. Getting out of those wet clothes felt nice. Still needed to put on his dry ones, though, and no sense in doing that on wet skin. He could wait an extra minute it or so. Gave him time to think.
Time to decide. What to do. Who to kill. Why to keep killing. Why it was his only way out.
Why he should still be able to look in the mirror after.
((Timeskip approved))
Mackenzie wasn't going to help him. That was fine. Meka could see she was a bit out of it, and he was the one assuming they were still in danger based on extremely flimsy reasoning. Besides, there wasn't a whole lot to put in the way of the door. There was a chair nearby. It wasn't a very sturdy looking one, but it could at least do the job. Meka turned the chair over and jammed it under the doorknob. It probably wouldn't offer much for defense, but at the very least anyone who tries to open it would struggle, alerting them to their presence.
"Ok, that'll work for now," Meka said.
Meka sighed. He had to hope it would work.
Meka sat against the wall of the living room, the bow laid across his lap. He kept his arms crossed and tried to avoid falling asleep. His flashlight laid next to him, although it was off, enveloping the room in darkness. It had been several hours since Mackenzie and Justin joined the home. Dolly and Marceline were still not back, leaving Meka to assume that they ran into trouble and were either dead or had to flee the village. If Quinn was running around the area, the latter seemed probable. Thankfully, Meka hadn't seen or heard anything dangerous since they locked themselves in, so he could slightly relax. Not totally, but just a little bit more.
The trio had stayed quiet for most of the day, and now that it was night, Meka decided to stay separate from Mackenzie and Justin. Not that he didn't trust them, but he figured that if the other girls came back, he should be the first person they see. He would have to explain what happened to Rhonda, and then explain that they had two new members in their house. He'd probably have to defend Justin a bit to them as well in case they assumed he was dangerous. Justin had been pretty quiet and normal for the rest of the day, so maybe Benedict's death really was an accident.
Meka felt himself nodding off a bit. It was really late, probably some time after midnight. The announcements would come in a few hours, which Meka had to be conscious of. There were more names to learn and memorize. To keep himself awake, he continued to repeat all the names of the deceased.
"Desiree Beck...Kayla Harris...Jeremiah Anderson," he quietly muttered to himself as his eyelids flickered a bit. He had to stay quiet just so he wouldn't bother Mackenzie and Justin.
He finally closed them and tried to continue his muttering. It was getting harder to stay awake, and he could just as easily recall names with his eyes closed. At least he hoped he could. The sound of the evening rain and the darkness of the room was starting to invite him to sleep, and he was starting to consider accepting the invitation.
Mackenzie wasn't going to help him. That was fine. Meka could see she was a bit out of it, and he was the one assuming they were still in danger based on extremely flimsy reasoning. Besides, there wasn't a whole lot to put in the way of the door. There was a chair nearby. It wasn't a very sturdy looking one, but it could at least do the job. Meka turned the chair over and jammed it under the doorknob. It probably wouldn't offer much for defense, but at the very least anyone who tries to open it would struggle, alerting them to their presence.
"Ok, that'll work for now," Meka said.
Meka sighed. He had to hope it would work.
Meka sat against the wall of the living room, the bow laid across his lap. He kept his arms crossed and tried to avoid falling asleep. His flashlight laid next to him, although it was off, enveloping the room in darkness. It had been several hours since Mackenzie and Justin joined the home. Dolly and Marceline were still not back, leaving Meka to assume that they ran into trouble and were either dead or had to flee the village. If Quinn was running around the area, the latter seemed probable. Thankfully, Meka hadn't seen or heard anything dangerous since they locked themselves in, so he could slightly relax. Not totally, but just a little bit more.
The trio had stayed quiet for most of the day, and now that it was night, Meka decided to stay separate from Mackenzie and Justin. Not that he didn't trust them, but he figured that if the other girls came back, he should be the first person they see. He would have to explain what happened to Rhonda, and then explain that they had two new members in their house. He'd probably have to defend Justin a bit to them as well in case they assumed he was dangerous. Justin had been pretty quiet and normal for the rest of the day, so maybe Benedict's death really was an accident.
Meka felt himself nodding off a bit. It was really late, probably some time after midnight. The announcements would come in a few hours, which Meka had to be conscious of. There were more names to learn and memorize. To keep himself awake, he continued to repeat all the names of the deceased.
"Desiree Beck...Kayla Harris...Jeremiah Anderson," he quietly muttered to himself as his eyelids flickered a bit. He had to stay quiet just so he wouldn't bother Mackenzie and Justin.
He finally closed them and tried to continue his muttering. It was getting harder to stay awake, and he could just as easily recall names with his eyes closed. At least he hoped he could. The sound of the evening rain and the darkness of the room was starting to invite him to sleep, and he was starting to consider accepting the invitation.
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MK Kilmarnock
- Posts: 1931
- Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2018 5:28 am
- Location: On one of the coasts, generally
More names, more reasons, no real reason at all. What was he doing?
Justin should have been happy for the moment of calm. It gave him time to think, something he had Mackenzie to thank for in large part but he supposed Meka deserved some credit. It afforded him an opportunity to change in the very least. His wet clothes were set out onto the floor to dry, in the vain hopes they might do so despite the humidity hanging about the air. Some of the wetness might have dissipated a little just from the fabric being stretched out across the floor but that was speaking of it charitably; he would be better off sticking it all back into his bag and waiting for another opportunity, given he was on his last change of clothes without access to any real luggage.
He wished laundry was the most difficult thing to think about, and even it was proving to be a most distressing task causing the threat of foot rot or thrush to hang over his head, ready to drop like a weight atop him at any moment. If only that really were the biggest problem. The true issue, a danger far more insidious than wet clothing, could very well prove to be his own indecisiveness. Back on that very first day waking after the assembly, Justin had been forced to make a decision. He seemed so sure, and in the face of all those who bristled after he struck Benny, he'd been forced to back down. He'd almost set himself on a different course. The morning of the second day changed all that, for better or for worse. He thought he knew what he had to do to survive.
Doing 'what he had to do,' as it turned out, wasn't really paying out all that well. That one failure in particular, out there in the rain with Ned, not only cost him resources and dry clothes but nearly cost him his life. He, trying to make a name for himself and grow to become a moving threat, was nearly mowed down. He was the little fish trying to nibble at seaweed when he saw a juicy tadpole, and nearly swam into the mouth of the largest fucking hornpout in the lake. All that led him here, and because he hadn't taken another life, Ned's death would not be attributed to him on the announcements. He had only killed the once, and that could be played off as an accident, a freak accident nobody could have foreseen in the circumstances laid bare when you drop a bunch of panicky kids onto an island with wanton weaponry and tell them to kill each other.
Even if it wasn't an accident at all, Justin was prepared to live that lie if he found a way to make it work for him. And it had definitely worked.
But he lacked that last step. He had his safe haven for now, a chance to regroup, but then what? Still the one weapon, still hunkering down and waiting to die, with food, water and other supplies running low. Others would come calling. Others were being more active and making things happen for them. He'd seen it. That's how he knew the right play to make. This wasn't it. Not sitting still. Not doing nothing. Nobody lived doing that, and one day Meka would learn that lesson... sadly, Mackenzie would have to learn it too, and that hardly seemed fair after all she'd done for Justin. She'd let him in.
He looked over to her, to see how the morning treated her.
Justin should have been happy for the moment of calm. It gave him time to think, something he had Mackenzie to thank for in large part but he supposed Meka deserved some credit. It afforded him an opportunity to change in the very least. His wet clothes were set out onto the floor to dry, in the vain hopes they might do so despite the humidity hanging about the air. Some of the wetness might have dissipated a little just from the fabric being stretched out across the floor but that was speaking of it charitably; he would be better off sticking it all back into his bag and waiting for another opportunity, given he was on his last change of clothes without access to any real luggage.
He wished laundry was the most difficult thing to think about, and even it was proving to be a most distressing task causing the threat of foot rot or thrush to hang over his head, ready to drop like a weight atop him at any moment. If only that really were the biggest problem. The true issue, a danger far more insidious than wet clothing, could very well prove to be his own indecisiveness. Back on that very first day waking after the assembly, Justin had been forced to make a decision. He seemed so sure, and in the face of all those who bristled after he struck Benny, he'd been forced to back down. He'd almost set himself on a different course. The morning of the second day changed all that, for better or for worse. He thought he knew what he had to do to survive.
Doing 'what he had to do,' as it turned out, wasn't really paying out all that well. That one failure in particular, out there in the rain with Ned, not only cost him resources and dry clothes but nearly cost him his life. He, trying to make a name for himself and grow to become a moving threat, was nearly mowed down. He was the little fish trying to nibble at seaweed when he saw a juicy tadpole, and nearly swam into the mouth of the largest fucking hornpout in the lake. All that led him here, and because he hadn't taken another life, Ned's death would not be attributed to him on the announcements. He had only killed the once, and that could be played off as an accident, a freak accident nobody could have foreseen in the circumstances laid bare when you drop a bunch of panicky kids onto an island with wanton weaponry and tell them to kill each other.
Even if it wasn't an accident at all, Justin was prepared to live that lie if he found a way to make it work for him. And it had definitely worked.
But he lacked that last step. He had his safe haven for now, a chance to regroup, but then what? Still the one weapon, still hunkering down and waiting to die, with food, water and other supplies running low. Others would come calling. Others were being more active and making things happen for them. He'd seen it. That's how he knew the right play to make. This wasn't it. Not sitting still. Not doing nothing. Nobody lived doing that, and one day Meka would learn that lesson... sadly, Mackenzie would have to learn it too, and that hardly seemed fair after all she'd done for Justin. She'd let him in.
He looked over to her, to see how the morning treated her.