At Least It's Not a Microwave

Open, Evening of Day 11

The spot with the best freely accessible view of the island, Nature's Lookout was mainly used for contemplative purposes. There are a collection of handmade benches here to provide seating for those that desire it. One notable addition to the cliff face at Nature's Lookout is the wooden platform that extends out over the cliff that people could walk out onto to feel closer to nature and commit items to the earth below.
User avatar
Frozen Smoke
Posts: 533
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 3:50 pm
Location: Where I need to be

At Least It's Not a Microwave

#1

Post by Frozen Smoke »

((Faith Clementine Marshal-Mackenzie continued from Meet Me In the City))

Faith stirred the smouldering fire in front of her with a stick, turning around the blackened but still smoking chunks of wood within the stone circle she'd made, as she tried to keep the thing alight for as long as possible. Peeking out from beneath the light grey ash that coated the circle was the dulled sheen of her emergency blanket, which had been folded around the few fish she'd been able to catch, making something that she hoped would act like tin foil. It looked like tin foil, at least, and it wasn't like she had any other way to cook it. The people who'd live here before hadn't exactly left behind any barbecues for her to use.

The problem was the waiting, though. The sound of fat dripping out of the pouch and popping and crackling as it hit the fire, the smell of the fish slowly cooking lingering just beneath that of the smoke, all of it was reminding her that it had been about a day and a half since she'd last eaten. It seemed like such a good idea to just reach in and grab the food out now, and pour it into the aching void of her stomach, a temptation only quashed by thinking about what getting food poisoning would be like.

Faith sighed and leaned back against the bench that sat behind her, resigning herself to waiting a few more minutes as she stared aimlessly at the view this little camping site had been made to capture. The rolling swathes of green stretching away and down along the hills of the island, framed on one side by the dark blue of the sea that was so far away it looked calm, whilst the sky began the transition from a patchwork of white and blue to a deeper shade of bruised purple.

It was beautiful, but that beauty felt empty, even as she tried to sink herself into the view. Like the backdrop to a tacky advert, or the faded front to some postcard, the vista just felt like a thin veneer laid over what actually mattered. A distraction to make you lower your guard.

Maybe part of it was the body she'd seen on the way up here, smashed and cut almost beyond recognition at the foot of the cliff that the lookout hung over. Almost, because she knew that blue hair. It was Sierra's. The first person who she'd met on the island, and the first of many people to earn her enmity, but - still - looking at her body didn't bring out a feeling of vindication. It had just made her feel sick.

There had been other signs of violence, too, as she'd walked up to where she was now. Blood. Shell casings. She was almost used to those things now, the carnal decorations of the "game" that they'd all been forced into, but it poisoned any sense of peace she could find with the knowledge of just how fragile it was.

Faith looked away from the vista, and returned to poking at the fire in front of her.
[+] V7
Relationship Thread!

ImageFaith Clementine Marshal-Mackenzie
[+] Pregame
Memories: Making old enemies
Present Day: Making new friends - Playing childish games - Acting like an adult
Oneshots: Tidying up - Coming home
ImageParker Green
[+] Pregame
Memories: Cheaters never prosper - Except when they do - Keeping promises
Present Day: Getting informed - Playing nice - Keeping up appearances - Playing Games - Talking too much
Oneshots: Preparing for battle
Luca Thomas
[+] Pregame
Present Day: Being a team player
Prom: Trying her best
Memories:
Criticism or thoughts on my writing are welcome and appreciated - always looking to improve! Feel free to poke me on Discord or via PM.
User avatar
Melusine
Posts: 863
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 3:38 pm

#2

Post by Melusine »

Riding a bike was quite a nice experience even if it was a tad bit more exhausting than she had expected.

((Willow continued here.))

She knew it was something about the malnutrition or her constant state of fatigue or maybe it was just because she had been crying all day, but she was already ready to take a long nap. Perhaps, she would find a tree to climb into and sleep there. There was also the problem of the bike, though.

So that's what she decided to keep moving despite the setting sun in the distance. Her goal was to reach the mansion, or at least some type of habitation, where she could find a nice place to sit down and hide in. She did eye a nice utility closet back at the mansion, but it would probably be taken by a laundry of corpses at this point.

The problem with alone with your thoughts was the non-negociable nature of them. They weren't made to be analyzed. They were scattered and forced, and not a lot of conversing would change them. Her thoughts moved around her head as she continued down the trail with her bike. Her bags banging against her sides and her back. She was only wearing Sierra's jacket with her black bra. It was hot, painfully so. The buttons were undone so the flaps of the jacket made a soothing noise as they went through the wind. There were some shorts in one of her bags, either Sierra's or Roxie's, so now, Willow chose to wear them.

As she wandered through the woods on her mount, her body started to cool down. It almost felt frisky as the wind hit her body. The bike was truly the best thing she had managed to find on this shitty island. She only needed to find a tooth brush and she would be set for the rest of her life.

She skirted around limbs and bodies and bloodstains, avoiding to slip and fall. It would be embarrassing to live this long to only die because she split her skull in half on a rock. Her nose picked up something that made her put her foot on the ground. It was... smoke? Food. Something was being cooked, and for once, it wasn't human meat. She took another whiff in the air.

Fish?
User avatar
Ryuki
Posts: 426
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 4:55 pm
Contact:

#3

Post by Ryuki »

(Zachary Beck, Continued from Pride and Vengeance)

Zach continued down the dim path toward the lookout. The botanical scenery was being masked in a blanket of the evening sky. He tried to ignore any corpses he came across. It was a reminder of what would happen if he were to lose this game. He didn’t want to end up like that. He refused to end up that way.

As he continued toward the lookout, he noticed a familiar sight. A girl on a bike. She wasn’t just any girl either. It was the same girl that had given him his new weapon. He hadn’t expected to see Willow again so soon. But something was different, right from the get go. Where was Katrina?

Zach then noticed a faint, mesmerizing scent in the air. It reminded Zach of the grill at a seafood restaurant. Is someone cooking salmon? If so, there must be a campfire nearby.

“Psst, psst,” Zach went, trying to get Willow’s attention.
[+] V7
Mains
Image B018: Ned Jackson- That’s All Folks
Image G039: Yuki Hayashibara- Family is Forever
Image B034: Zachary Beck- Guess I’ll Die
User avatar
Melusine
Posts: 863
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 3:38 pm

#4

Post by Melusine »

Her head twisted to the side, her hands shifting to her gun. She squinted, seeing in the foliage no-one else than Zach. Katrina was right. They would run into each other, and now, Willow had some explaining to do. Or maybe not, she didn't feel like it.

"Oh," she said, her finger still on the trigger, "hey dude."

She sniffed the air again. The smell of fish really carried throughout these stale woods. It didn't make her hungry, per say, but it did make her wonder about her next meal. While she didn't like fish, she could perhaps snatch a bite and get some proteins. It depended on who was cooking it, and if she could take them on, but Willow wasn't worried about that anymore.

"You smell that?" She sniffed again, theatrically. "I'm not going crazy, right?"
User avatar
Ryuki
Posts: 426
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 4:55 pm
Contact:

#5

Post by Ryuki »

“No,” Zach said, taking another deep whiff, “I smell it too.”

Zach didn’t really mind fish. He preferred burgers and chicken over seafood, but fish, he could take it or leave it. Regardless, it had to be better than the protein bars, bread, and crackers he’s been snacking on for ten days. Thing was, whoever was cooking it might be armed and possibly hostile. If Zach were to go up to their campfire himself, he’d run this risk of triggering their trigger finger. But, with Willow here, maybe he’d outnumber them. He’d just need to convince her.

“So,” Zach said, “should we investigate? Smells pretty good.”
[+] V7
Mains
Image B018: Ned Jackson- That’s All Folks
Image G039: Yuki Hayashibara- Family is Forever
Image B034: Zachary Beck- Guess I’ll Die
User avatar
Frozen Smoke
Posts: 533
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 3:50 pm
Location: Where I need to be

#6

Post by Frozen Smoke »

It was the moment of truth.

Faith gingerly unwrapped the emergency blanket as it sat in her lap, fingers peeling away at the soot blackened material, revealing the mottled white flesh of cooked fish inside. It was coated in a fluid, though, and it still looked a little translucent. Pinching it between a pair of fingers, she brought it up to her nose and sniffed, though she wasn't exactly sure she was worried about smelling. Plastic, maybe?

This was the kind of thing she wanted to double check. How exactly did you know if fish was properly cooked?

Fuck it.

She lowered the piece into her mouth, and chewed it quickly, trying to get the first impressions over and done with. The pieces that hit her tongue, rather than sliding back into a mush between her molars did not impress, the flesh being tough and slimy in the peculiar way that only seafood had. It was salty, too, and every move of her jaw made her worry about a missed bone jamming into her gums.

She swallowed the mouthful, and considered the so-called in front of her again for a hesitant moment. Part of her just wanted to just put the rest of it and wait for her stomach to settle after that, but another, louder part of her insisted that it would be worse cold than hot.

Another piece of fish slid down her gullet, with just as much protest as the first.

Then, out of nowhere, came a noise. Something she could swear she'd heard before, but couldn't quite place for a fraction of a second. Grinding against dirt and grit that was continuous, rather than the usual patter of footsteps. It wasn't until she heard the distant squeaking of brakes that her hackles suddenly raised. That was the sound of tyres. And not only that, they had now stopped nearby, which meant whoever had been riding on them wasn't just passing by.
[+] V7
Relationship Thread!

ImageFaith Clementine Marshal-Mackenzie
[+] Pregame
Memories: Making old enemies
Present Day: Making new friends - Playing childish games - Acting like an adult
Oneshots: Tidying up - Coming home
ImageParker Green
[+] Pregame
Memories: Cheaters never prosper - Except when they do - Keeping promises
Present Day: Getting informed - Playing nice - Keeping up appearances - Playing Games - Talking too much
Oneshots: Preparing for battle
Luca Thomas
[+] Pregame
Present Day: Being a team player
Prom: Trying her best
Memories:
Criticism or thoughts on my writing are welcome and appreciated - always looking to improve! Feel free to poke me on Discord or via PM.
User avatar
Melusine
Posts: 863
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 3:38 pm

#7

Post by Melusine »

“Oooooh,” she said, bending forward, “somebody’s hungry.”

She smiled, her face painted with the usual smirk. Willow desperately wanted to act normal as if nothing had happened. A small part of her wanted to get on her bike and drive as far away as possible as she screamed her lungs out, but another part was torn to the idea of investigating the smell.

“Sure,” she put on hand on her hip, “you lead the way.”

Her head turned around, trying to find where the smell was coming from. It appeared to be coming from their right, but she couldn’t really pinpoint it.

“I think,” she said, stretching the last syllable, “it’s that way.”
User avatar
Ryuki
Posts: 426
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 4:55 pm
Contact:

#8

Post by Ryuki »

Zach followed where Willow faced. The smell was coming from the right of them somewhere nearby. Zach adjusted his eyesight in order to see a small light in the distance, through the darkened forest.

“Okay, follow me,” Zach said quietly.

Zach followed the smell, all while keeping an eye on Willow. Just as the smell reached it’s peak, he saw the roaring campfire and the figure sitting in front of it.

Now they found the source of the smell, what will they do now? They shouldn’t just startle the girl eating the fish, otherwise there would be a potential struggle. Maybe, they could convince the girl to share, if they looked hungry enough. Zach looked to Willow.

“You don’t suppose she’d be willing to share if we ask nicely?”, Zach asked, trying to keep his voice to a minimum.
[+] V7
Mains
Image B018: Ned Jackson- That’s All Folks
Image G039: Yuki Hayashibara- Family is Forever
Image B034: Zachary Beck- Guess I’ll Die
User avatar
Frozen Smoke
Posts: 533
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 3:50 pm
Location: Where I need to be

#9

Post by Frozen Smoke »

Faith was on her feet again. She could swear she heard voices, hiding under the perpetual drone of bugs, and rustling of leaves that otherwise seemed so easy to tune out. Her hands wrapped around the pole of the scythe, bringing it up to her side, the weight of it feeling reassuring as it tugged on her arm. Taking stock of her surroundings however, was much less so. There weren't exactly paths that she could block off, the treeline coverage just slowly thinned out, finally giving way to the wispy grass that topped the cliff about 50 yards away.

She could probably still make a run for it, but what little she still owned was still scattered around the campfire. The first aid kit with it's contents all spewed out so she could pick out the lighter. Bottles of water lying underneath the bench where she'd been sitting to try and keep them cool. The fishing rod she'd spent days piecing together from scraps around the island. Abandoning all that felt just as dangerous as staying.

Her heart was racing again. She had to do something. Just standing here waiting was letting whoever was out there - if anyone was actually out there - keep doing whatever it was they were doing. Her eyes flicked across the wall of green nervously, trying to see any movement that didn't look like it was caused by low breeze running across the island, anything that might help her pick out where they were.

Faith took a breath in, held it for a couple of seconds, and let it out. Steadying herself, trying to make sure her voice wouldn't wobble. She needed to sound confident.

"I KNOW YOU'RE OUT THERE!" She yelled, eyes still scanning for movement.

"COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP!"
[+] V7
Relationship Thread!

ImageFaith Clementine Marshal-Mackenzie
[+] Pregame
Memories: Making old enemies
Present Day: Making new friends - Playing childish games - Acting like an adult
Oneshots: Tidying up - Coming home
ImageParker Green
[+] Pregame
Memories: Cheaters never prosper - Except when they do - Keeping promises
Present Day: Getting informed - Playing nice - Keeping up appearances - Playing Games - Talking too much
Oneshots: Preparing for battle
Luca Thomas
[+] Pregame
Present Day: Being a team player
Prom: Trying her best
Memories:
Criticism or thoughts on my writing are welcome and appreciated - always looking to improve! Feel free to poke me on Discord or via PM.
User avatar
Melusine
Posts: 863
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 3:38 pm

#10

Post by Melusine »

Willow's laugh started from chest, almost hidden by her grimace. But it didn't take long before it erupted through her mouth, surrounding the area with her ruthless cackles. It was just funny, really. For the first time she didn't have any of her long term allies, she meets one of the only person that Willow was genuinely scared to meet.

It was just a question of fate, really. Another proof that Willow deserved her punishments, another nail in the coffing that didn't stop growing to accomodate her classmates. She giggled, again, setting her bike against a tree. Faith was right there. Faith! No-one else than her! It was great, it was truly great!

"Oh hiiiiiii," she singsonged between laughter, "it's good to see you, Faith."

She didn't see her, but Faith didn't have to know that. She crossed her arms, leaning her back on a tree. Willow would stay where she was and Faith wouldn't get the opportunity to get the drop on her.

No, Willow was going to savour the pain. Faith deserved it because she wasn't playing the game. She deserved every single torments that Willow was going to bring unto her life because she had disappointed her. If she wanted to be left alone, Faith would have done what she was supposed to do with the gift that Willow gave to her.

She turned toward Zach, putting her finger against her lips. It's not like he needed to play along, but he just needed to be quiet for some time. Willow knew she could just storm in and pull the trigger. She knew that too well, but she wanted to have fun. Without Katrina, a lot of the enjoyment of the island had gone away.

While it would be practical to rush in and end Faith's life, Willow, instead, continued to laugh.
User avatar
Ryuki
Posts: 426
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 4:55 pm
Contact:

#11

Post by Ryuki »

Well, damn it. Their cover was blown. If this were a game, Zach would have the biggest red exclamation point over his head. Just as Zach raised his hands to try and come off as non-threatening, Willow began cackling like a hyena. In between the laughter, she greeted the girl holding the scythe.

“Hold up!”, Zach said, “You know her?”

Before he could get confirmation, Willow looked at Zach, and brought her finger to her lips. That was a sign that he shouldn’t talk at this point. Well, okay then, guess Willow wanted to have a conversation with Faith. He stood back, away from the two girls. Zach felt a cold sweat down his back. He could tell things were gonna get awkward and tense real quick.
[+] V7
Mains
Image B018: Ned Jackson- That’s All Folks
Image G039: Yuki Hayashibara- Family is Forever
Image B034: Zachary Beck- Guess I’ll Die
User avatar
Frozen Smoke
Posts: 533
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 3:50 pm
Location: Where I need to be

#12

Post by Frozen Smoke »

The laughter that came as a response gnawed away at the thin layer of confidence she'd tried to wrap herself in, even as one of the group actually followed her demands, much to her surprise. Faith had hoped that it would stop them at a distance, maybe give away their position, enough to give her a chance to figure out some sort of route out of this. But seeing the figure step out right at the edge of the bush line, gun swinging by his side, made her realise she had much less time than she thought.

It took a few moments, but she realised she knew who it was, too - Zach. Mostly thanks to his height, but the dirty blonde hair and loud voice were just as memorable, even as he seemed to try and shrink back into the greenery. She could just about remember his name being called out on the announcements, once or twice, maybe. Nothing on the scale of Blaise or Erika or Quinn, but still, he was just as dangerous as anyone else with a gun.

The disembodied voice felt even more threatening than that though. Zach's glance to the side, and her creepy, childlike crowing told her the vague direction in which she was hiding - But that was it. Faith didn't know what she was armed with, she didn't know exactly where she was, and she didn't know who the fuck it was either. Judging by the way they were pulling right from horror movies though, whoever it was at least wanted her to think they were capable of anything, and that was the best case scenario.

Faith took a few steps back and to the side, trying to cut into the treeline herself without making it too obvious, as she kept her eyes firmly locked in the direction of the two of them.

"The fuck are you hanging around with Heath Ledger over there for, Zach?" she asked, her voice sharpening as nervousness began to bleed into it.
[+] V7
Relationship Thread!

ImageFaith Clementine Marshal-Mackenzie
[+] Pregame
Memories: Making old enemies
Present Day: Making new friends - Playing childish games - Acting like an adult
Oneshots: Tidying up - Coming home
ImageParker Green
[+] Pregame
Memories: Cheaters never prosper - Except when they do - Keeping promises
Present Day: Getting informed - Playing nice - Keeping up appearances - Playing Games - Talking too much
Oneshots: Preparing for battle
Luca Thomas
[+] Pregame
Present Day: Being a team player
Prom: Trying her best
Memories:
Criticism or thoughts on my writing are welcome and appreciated - always looking to improve! Feel free to poke me on Discord or via PM.
User avatar
Melusine
Posts: 863
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 3:38 pm

#13

Post by Melusine »

Her laughter erupted once more.

Did Faith not recognize her? It's not like they had talked before, most of their previous interactions were shared grunts and whimpers. It made sense that Faith didn't recognize her, Willow was pretty good at sitting under the radar. For someone who had made a living out of staying just outside the perimeter of social interactions, Willow was somewhat blessed with a skill in theatrics.

"Hey," she said, leaning a bit to the left. Her head was sticking out alongside of her hand. She waved her hand, every single of her fingers moving toward Faith as if she were a witch casting a spell. "It's Willow."

Her smile spread across her cheeks. If Willow had more than the usual amount of teeth, they would be competing for the spotlight.

"I just want to talk," she punctuated every word with emphasis, "can we do that, Faith?"
User avatar
Ryuki
Posts: 426
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 4:55 pm
Contact:

#14

Post by Ryuki »

“U-Uh, w-we just kinda ran into each other,” Zach stammered.

Zach continued to hang back. While Willow was trying to get Faith’s attention he eyed the campfire. That fish dinner had to be around somewhere.

“So, you wouldn’t happen to have any food around, would ya?”, asked Zach.
[+] V7
Mains
Image B018: Ned Jackson- That’s All Folks
Image G039: Yuki Hayashibara- Family is Forever
Image B034: Zachary Beck- Guess I’ll Die
User avatar
Frozen Smoke
Posts: 533
Joined: Mon Aug 13, 2018 3:50 pm
Location: Where I need to be

#15

Post by Frozen Smoke »

Faith locked eyes with the girl as she made herself visible, peeking out just enough that she could see a wave of her hand, and start to make out her face. It took a few moments for her to realise just where she recognised it from. The first day on the island, the person who'd came up behind her, robbed her. The girl she'd shot. Willow, that was her name, apparently. Unless she was lying.

"Sure." she replied, her mouth suddenly feeling rather dry. "Talk. Yeah."

She couldn't make out a gun, if Willow had one, but she could easily be hiding it. If she did have one, then there was no chance she'd hesitate to use it to even the score, if given the chance. She glanced to the side, trying to figure out where she could run to, what tree was thick enough to serve as cover. Her stomach cramped up a little as she realised just how far it was.

Zach seemed to be distancing himself from Willow, but that meant jack shit when the two of them had just rocked up together, and he certainly wasn't making any moves to protect her as he stood there with his gun dangling by his side. But at least he was blunt.

"Is that what this is about? The fish?" she asked, as she looked back and forth between the two of them.

"I'll let you have it, if you want - Just let me leave."
[+] V7
Relationship Thread!

ImageFaith Clementine Marshal-Mackenzie
[+] Pregame
Memories: Making old enemies
Present Day: Making new friends - Playing childish games - Acting like an adult
Oneshots: Tidying up - Coming home
ImageParker Green
[+] Pregame
Memories: Cheaters never prosper - Except when they do - Keeping promises
Present Day: Getting informed - Playing nice - Keeping up appearances - Playing Games - Talking too much
Oneshots: Preparing for battle
Luca Thomas
[+] Pregame
Present Day: Being a team player
Prom: Trying her best
Memories:
Criticism or thoughts on my writing are welcome and appreciated - always looking to improve! Feel free to poke me on Discord or via PM.
Post Reply

Return to “Nature's Lookout”