((Becky Long continued from Almost The Last Of Her Kind))
Becky Long was once again thinking of home.
The cabin where she was currently staying, resting on the bed with her leg splayed out in front of her, had brought back memories of the one time she’d convinced the family to go camping with her. It wasn’t meant to start in a cabin, she’d shown them all how to pitch a tent. They’d tried to help, and they’d had a few laughs when the thing collapsed in on itself twice, but she’d had to take the lead, not that it had bothered her in the slightest. It had taken four sausages, a faulty spatula and an unexpected guest to drive them to a nearby set of cabins in the end. Truthfully, Becky had always held onto the slightest suspicion her father had planned it all along, but after some initial fuming over not getting to do camping ‘The right way’, she’d cooled off and the rest of the holiday had been one of her favourites.
And now she was crippled forever.
When she’d walked in to the cabin last night, sometime around three in the morning, maybe, she hadn’t bothered to check around the place; she’d pretty much headed straight for the bed, pausing only to throw her stick crutch to the ground, and fallen asleep straight away. It had turned out that whilst passing out for several hours was a great way to not have to deal with your leg having just been stabbed, losing all that blood really did a number on your endurance. She was tired, and after waking up, she still felt tired.
Her leg wasn’t getting better either, not that she had expected it to. It was hot, almost burning, and the bandage had become a right mess. She realised the possibility, and most certain probability, that it had been infected. It was at that moment she’d realised just how much she missed that day pack of hers, the one with the very handy first aid kit. The growling in her stomach didn’t help either. There hadn’t been anything useful in the cabin, but that wasn’t a surprise. She hadn’t looked too hard, not wanting to stay on her crutch longer than she needed to due to the chafing in her armpit, but it had been fruitless none the less. Apart from locking the door on a brief moment of impulse, she hadn't found anything or done anything useful. She’d just been there, waiting for nothing, running out of anything.
In essence, she was wasting away.
She threw her head back onto the scrawny pillow, staring up at the ceiling and losing herself in her thoughts. Her knife was on the bedside table, ready to be grabbed the moment someone tried the door, but more there as a comfort than anything. She’d clutched it to her chest over the night, her dreams filled with terrors and fears as her leg throbbed. She’d forgotten them as soon as she’d woken up, but she’d awoken in a sweat none the less. The details hardly mattered, anyway.
As she stared up at the woodwork, the announcements played out again in her head.
For the most part, it hadn’t mattered. She recognised some of the names, cared about very few, and was relieved when she wasn’t announced to be in a danger zone. She could’ve moved on from there and forgotten the announcements again, would’ve quite happily if she still could just forget about it all, but she didn’t have anything else to distract her in the empty cabin.
Crazy Max, for starters, was finally gone. Of course, the announcements hadn’t called him that stupid nickname. Maxim Sanders, her friend, was the one that was dead. Even if he’d gone nuts and tried to kill her, he was still dead. As much as she wanted it to be easy, like when Tori had died and she’d just laughed it off, it wasn’t. Even after all the names, it wasn’t as easy as just moving on.
Brian’s involvement did little to help.
She’d paid close attention after that part, not that there was much else to listen to apart from the chirping of the nearby woods. Brian had killed Maxim, but no-one had killed him. Damien too was still alive and kicking, and that was enough to let her move on from her dead friend. At the same time, she felt both dread to know they were still out there, but, much more significantly, relief. She couldn’t quite place the latter, or at least didn’t want to, but as the feeling had hit her she'd grabbed her knife and rammed it into the wood of the wall, all the same. When the wall hadn't bled, she'd taken the knife back out and gone back to staring at the roof.
Her stomach was still growling, but that was that. She gripped it one more time, clenching her tight abs between her fingers, stared at the door for just a moment, and then went back to wasting away.
Her crutch was still on the ground, out of reach. She’d have to drag herself over to it if she wanted to leave anytime soon.
Good Morning Sunshine
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delicateMachine
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((Ashley Sydor: Continued from Virtue's Last Reward))
The morning's announcements had not been kind to Ashley. Amanda and Aaron were both dead. Hell, Aaron was murdered by the same girl that had killed Jonathon. Small world.
Ash hadn't exactly been extremely close to the two, but they'd been there with her at the start of the game, an eternity ago. They'd been a team, if only for a little while. Their deaths hurt. Jaz was really the only one left, now. Jasmine'd survived this whole time, surely she'd be able to hang in there a little longer until Ash found her, right?
As she aimlessly wandered away from the slope and Jon, Ashley thought about why, exactly, she was still alive. 18 students were left. Ashley wasn't the strongest among them, wasn't the smartest, wasn't even the bravest. Why, then, was she still alive? Why was she still breathing, when so many others, including most of her friends, had fallen?
Whatever the reason, Ashley couldn't waste the chance to do something, anything. Finding Jaz was among her top priorities, obviously. But, mostly, she was thinking of her family. They'd been pushed out of her mind by, well, everything since the start of the game. Her parents, her aunt, who was practically a second mother, and Brandon, the closest thing she had to a brother. Even if they weren't currently watching, they'd still hear about the things she did.
It had to have hurt them to see Ashley wandering around, a shell of her former self in the wake of Marley's death. Now that she was mostly in her right mind she wanted to be a person they could be proud of. Someone who was strong, someone who could stay sane, and, when worst came to worst, someone who could die with dignity.
Ashley's thoughts were been interrupted when it startled to drizzle, chilling her. She shivered, trying to shrink into her coat. Making her family proud could wait a while, she needed to find shelter. She increased her pace, though her bag prevented her from jogging at full speed. Ash soon came to what passed for a village in the valley, rushing towards the nearest cabin. When she tried the door, however, it wouldn't open.
Oh, you have got to be shitting me.
Ashley tried the door again, harder this time. No luck. It really was locked, then, not stuck. She punched the door out of frustration. "Open, damn you- fuck that really hurt, ow ow ow-" In the midst of her annoyance and pain, fueled partially by the day's events, Ashley didn't consider simply trying another cabin, or the fact that there could be people nearby. She would get that goddamn door open, even if it took an eternity.
The morning's announcements had not been kind to Ashley. Amanda and Aaron were both dead. Hell, Aaron was murdered by the same girl that had killed Jonathon. Small world.
Ash hadn't exactly been extremely close to the two, but they'd been there with her at the start of the game, an eternity ago. They'd been a team, if only for a little while. Their deaths hurt. Jaz was really the only one left, now. Jasmine'd survived this whole time, surely she'd be able to hang in there a little longer until Ash found her, right?
As she aimlessly wandered away from the slope and Jon, Ashley thought about why, exactly, she was still alive. 18 students were left. Ashley wasn't the strongest among them, wasn't the smartest, wasn't even the bravest. Why, then, was she still alive? Why was she still breathing, when so many others, including most of her friends, had fallen?
Whatever the reason, Ashley couldn't waste the chance to do something, anything. Finding Jaz was among her top priorities, obviously. But, mostly, she was thinking of her family. They'd been pushed out of her mind by, well, everything since the start of the game. Her parents, her aunt, who was practically a second mother, and Brandon, the closest thing she had to a brother. Even if they weren't currently watching, they'd still hear about the things she did.
It had to have hurt them to see Ashley wandering around, a shell of her former self in the wake of Marley's death. Now that she was mostly in her right mind she wanted to be a person they could be proud of. Someone who was strong, someone who could stay sane, and, when worst came to worst, someone who could die with dignity.
Ashley's thoughts were been interrupted when it startled to drizzle, chilling her. She shivered, trying to shrink into her coat. Making her family proud could wait a while, she needed to find shelter. She increased her pace, though her bag prevented her from jogging at full speed. Ash soon came to what passed for a village in the valley, rushing towards the nearest cabin. When she tried the door, however, it wouldn't open.
Oh, you have got to be shitting me.
Ashley tried the door again, harder this time. No luck. It really was locked, then, not stuck. She punched the door out of frustration. "Open, damn you- fuck that really hurt, ow ow ow-" In the midst of her annoyance and pain, fueled partially by the day's events, Ashley didn't consider simply trying another cabin, or the fact that there could be people nearby. She would get that goddamn door open, even if it took an eternity.
Becky shot upright at the sound coming from the door, hand darting straight for the knife at her side.
Her instinct was to get up, go over to the door and work from there, but of course, the dead weight of her leg reminded her that anything like that wasn’t so simple anymore. She looked down at her crutch on the floor, out of reach, and silently cursed leaving it so far away the whole time. She really didn’t want to have to drag herself over to it when someone was trying to break in.
The noise at the door was growing, becoming more aggressive, but as Ashley punched the door her wince of pain did not go unheard. It would’ve been funnier if Becky hadn’t been just a little bit worried. She was safe as far as she knew, the door looked strong, but what if she was wrong? If they got in, Becky was more or less stuck there on the bed, with nothing but her knife for protection. She could take care of herself, sure, do what needed to be done if it came to that, but what if?
“Who’s there?” she finally called out, her voice more assertive than she’d realised, not betraying the quiet panic ensuing in the back of her mind. She gripped her knife harder, just in case. She couldn’t say that she wouldn’t use it, but it’d be better for everyone if whoever was outside never got in in the first place.
Her instinct was to get up, go over to the door and work from there, but of course, the dead weight of her leg reminded her that anything like that wasn’t so simple anymore. She looked down at her crutch on the floor, out of reach, and silently cursed leaving it so far away the whole time. She really didn’t want to have to drag herself over to it when someone was trying to break in.
The noise at the door was growing, becoming more aggressive, but as Ashley punched the door her wince of pain did not go unheard. It would’ve been funnier if Becky hadn’t been just a little bit worried. She was safe as far as she knew, the door looked strong, but what if she was wrong? If they got in, Becky was more or less stuck there on the bed, with nothing but her knife for protection. She could take care of herself, sure, do what needed to be done if it came to that, but what if?
“Who’s there?” she finally called out, her voice more assertive than she’d realised, not betraying the quiet panic ensuing in the back of her mind. She gripped her knife harder, just in case. She couldn’t say that she wouldn’t use it, but it’d be better for everyone if whoever was outside never got in in the first place.
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delicateMachine
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Ashley was about to start searching for a window to break open when someone from inside the cabin called out to her. Her frustration dissipated instantly, to be replaced by mild panic. The fact that someone was taking the time to actually talk to her was promising, at least. "Er. Ash. Ashley Sydor." The rain increased in intensity, and Ashley shivered, trying to use what little cover the cabin provided.
"Sorry about the noise, didn't know anyone was in there. I was just trying to get out of this freaking rain." As if on cue, the wind began to blow harder as well. "Agh, that doesn't feel good. Look, could you let me in? I don't want to spend twenty minutes trying every cabin to see if they're locked or not. I've got a bag with medicine and stuff, maybe we could work out a deal?"
It might be dangerous to let a stranger know that Ash had valuables, but there was also nothing stopping said stranger from ambushing her the second she turned her back to the cabin. If she could negotiate, she decreased the chances of being attacked, and hey, maybe she could help someone out in the process. "If you want me to go I'll leave you alone, but please decide quickly, this weather is incredibly shitty."
"Sorry about the noise, didn't know anyone was in there. I was just trying to get out of this freaking rain." As if on cue, the wind began to blow harder as well. "Agh, that doesn't feel good. Look, could you let me in? I don't want to spend twenty minutes trying every cabin to see if they're locked or not. I've got a bag with medicine and stuff, maybe we could work out a deal?"
It might be dangerous to let a stranger know that Ash had valuables, but there was also nothing stopping said stranger from ambushing her the second she turned her back to the cabin. If she could negotiate, she decreased the chances of being attacked, and hey, maybe she could help someone out in the process. "If you want me to go I'll leave you alone, but please decide quickly, this weather is incredibly shitty."
Ashley… Ashley Sydor…
Nope, didn’t come to her birthday party, so she was a jerk.
Okay, that was so old and moot by this point, but she really needed something to go on here. She was pretty sure she was that really tall girl (but then many people looked tall to her, though that was beside the point) but that was more or less all she could remember about her. Didn’t help that she couldn’t place her name on any of the announcements, either, so far all Becky knew she could’ve gone around killing everyone just like Brian and Damien, which would make her the last sort of person she’d want to let in.
Yeah, the latter thought was a lot more important than who came to her stupid birthday party right now.
Ashley did claim to have medicine, however, which apart from a tasty meal and going home, was pretty much the only thing Becky wanted right now.
In fact, the coincidence was almost too perfect.
For all she knew, it was just a plan to get inside and blow her brains out, knowing fully well that Becky had a crippled leg at that point. She had no idea how she could know, since the only people who did were Brian, Damien, and Dylan, but who’s to say Ashley hadn’t bumped into them? Who’s to say they weren’t outside right now, waiting for her to open the door and come finish the job? She had her knife, so she wasn’t defenceless, but she didn’t need to take on four different people at once. Even without a ruined leg, it would’ve been hard enough.
No, she had to get clever here, if Ashley really did have medicine.
“Can you, like…” she had to stop to actually think of her plan, but her mind worked fast enough. “Can you break in through a window?”
She had really sounded that confident in her own suggestion, but it was the best plan she could come up with. At least she’d see who was coming in that way, and it wasn’t like she could walk over to the door at that moment anyway. It would just have to do, for now.
She picked up her knife, ready for the worst case scenario.
Nope, didn’t come to her birthday party, so she was a jerk.
Okay, that was so old and moot by this point, but she really needed something to go on here. She was pretty sure she was that really tall girl (but then many people looked tall to her, though that was beside the point) but that was more or less all she could remember about her. Didn’t help that she couldn’t place her name on any of the announcements, either, so far all Becky knew she could’ve gone around killing everyone just like Brian and Damien, which would make her the last sort of person she’d want to let in.
Yeah, the latter thought was a lot more important than who came to her stupid birthday party right now.
Ashley did claim to have medicine, however, which apart from a tasty meal and going home, was pretty much the only thing Becky wanted right now.
In fact, the coincidence was almost too perfect.
For all she knew, it was just a plan to get inside and blow her brains out, knowing fully well that Becky had a crippled leg at that point. She had no idea how she could know, since the only people who did were Brian, Damien, and Dylan, but who’s to say Ashley hadn’t bumped into them? Who’s to say they weren’t outside right now, waiting for her to open the door and come finish the job? She had her knife, so she wasn’t defenceless, but she didn’t need to take on four different people at once. Even without a ruined leg, it would’ve been hard enough.
No, she had to get clever here, if Ashley really did have medicine.
“Can you, like…” she had to stop to actually think of her plan, but her mind worked fast enough. “Can you break in through a window?”
She had really sounded that confident in her own suggestion, but it was the best plan she could come up with. At least she’d see who was coming in that way, and it wasn’t like she could walk over to the door at that moment anyway. It would just have to do, for now.
She picked up her knife, ready for the worst case scenario.
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delicateMachine
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Ashley blinked. "Huh? Break in via a window? Sure, I guess." The person in the cabin was the one calling the shots, but it still struck Ashley as somewhat bizarre. What reason would there be for a request like that?
Well, at least it isn't an ambush. Probably.
It wouldn't make much sense to ask Ash to enter in a way that allowed her to actually see inside the cabin if the girl was planning an ambush, after all. Shrugging, Ashley walked around the cabin until she found a window that looked big enough to fit through. She couldn't really see much of the interior except for a bed that appeared to have someone lying in it. Ashley couldn't make out any details.
Thankfully, the window appeared to be stuck slightly open. "Opening the window, now." Ash called inside the cabin, placing her fingers underneath the window and attempting to lift it. The window refused to budge, however.
Man, this thing's really stuck.
Trying once more, Ash put all of her strength towards the task, grunting a bit from the exertion. The window became unstuck, and Ashley was able to easily slide it the rest of the way open. "It's open. Is it okay if I come in, now?" Ashley called into the cabin, idly adjusting the bag on her shoulder, still wary of a sudden attack.
I haven't been shot at yet. That's promising, at least.
Well, at least it isn't an ambush. Probably.
It wouldn't make much sense to ask Ash to enter in a way that allowed her to actually see inside the cabin if the girl was planning an ambush, after all. Shrugging, Ashley walked around the cabin until she found a window that looked big enough to fit through. She couldn't really see much of the interior except for a bed that appeared to have someone lying in it. Ashley couldn't make out any details.
Thankfully, the window appeared to be stuck slightly open. "Opening the window, now." Ash called inside the cabin, placing her fingers underneath the window and attempting to lift it. The window refused to budge, however.
Man, this thing's really stuck.
Trying once more, Ash put all of her strength towards the task, grunting a bit from the exertion. The window became unstuck, and Ashley was able to easily slide it the rest of the way open. "It's open. Is it okay if I come in, now?" Ashley called into the cabin, idly adjusting the bag on her shoulder, still wary of a sudden attack.
I haven't been shot at yet. That's promising, at least.
Becky, for some reason, hadn’t expected Ashley to actually do what she wanted. It was either that, or maybe she was hoping that Ashley would just leave her alone. She really wanted that medicine for her crippled leg, but at the same time, she would have to risk getting worse than crippled.
No, it was okay; she had her knife, still clutched tightly in her hand, ready for use at a moment’s notice. Even if there were four of them about to crawl in through the window, she was Becky kickass Long. She’d take them all on, no problem.
Okay, being confined to a bed, it was starting to sound a bit hollow. Still, it was better to think that than anything else at that point.
“Yeah, fine.” She called back to Ash, impatient more than anything to get the suspense out of the way. If she was going to have to kick some more ass, it would be better to get it out the way than to draw it out all day
No, it was okay; she had her knife, still clutched tightly in her hand, ready for use at a moment’s notice. Even if there were four of them about to crawl in through the window, she was Becky kickass Long. She’d take them all on, no problem.
Okay, being confined to a bed, it was starting to sound a bit hollow. Still, it was better to think that than anything else at that point.
“Yeah, fine.” She called back to Ash, impatient more than anything to get the suspense out of the way. If she was going to have to kick some more ass, it would be better to get it out the way than to draw it out all day
((Audrey McKee continued from Solitary Confinement))
She should have been more careful about what she had wished for.
Worse weather? Sure!
Either way, Audrey was drenched now. It still wasn't raining that hard, she supposed, but shelter was probably a better idea than going back to the slope and hoping that Frank had left.
The only problem was that shelter meant people, and people meant trouble.
She trudged through the streets, glancing left and right every so often. It wouldn't do to stumble upon somebody. Not without being ready to fight. Yet when she heard the voices, she didn't head the other way.
Pressing herself against the wet side of a cabin, she inched towards the source of the noise. A girl was talking, but she didn't recognize the voice, although it sounded awfully familiar. She tried to think who was left. Couldn't figure it out. There were just too many dead, their names read out on the announcements, every one another familiar face gone. It was hard to stomach. Over the days, she'd stopped really listening to them, just listening for the danger zones and some of the more important killers. Now she wished she'd kept better track.
Turning tail and heading into another cabin was probably the smart choice here. She didn't take it, though, just peeked around the corner really quickly so she could get a sight of who she was up against. All she saw was a flash of blond hair before she ducked back behind the cabin. At least she was reasonably sure the other girl had been looking away. Audrey didn't dare look again.
Blond. Hmm. Amanda and Felicia had been announced dead just this morning. Zora was long gone. Robin was a killer, so Audrey doubted that she'd be so calm, talking in the middle of town.
Ashley, maybe? The person had looked kind of tall. Audrey searched her memory for a relevant announcement. The military jerk had been mad yesterday morning, something about... Marley. Got blown up.
Ashley and Marley were a thing, weren't they?
Welp.
She should have been more careful about what she had wished for.
Worse weather? Sure!
Either way, Audrey was drenched now. It still wasn't raining that hard, she supposed, but shelter was probably a better idea than going back to the slope and hoping that Frank had left.
The only problem was that shelter meant people, and people meant trouble.
She trudged through the streets, glancing left and right every so often. It wouldn't do to stumble upon somebody. Not without being ready to fight. Yet when she heard the voices, she didn't head the other way.
Pressing herself against the wet side of a cabin, she inched towards the source of the noise. A girl was talking, but she didn't recognize the voice, although it sounded awfully familiar. She tried to think who was left. Couldn't figure it out. There were just too many dead, their names read out on the announcements, every one another familiar face gone. It was hard to stomach. Over the days, she'd stopped really listening to them, just listening for the danger zones and some of the more important killers. Now she wished she'd kept better track.
Turning tail and heading into another cabin was probably the smart choice here. She didn't take it, though, just peeked around the corner really quickly so she could get a sight of who she was up against. All she saw was a flash of blond hair before she ducked back behind the cabin. At least she was reasonably sure the other girl had been looking away. Audrey didn't dare look again.
Blond. Hmm. Amanda and Felicia had been announced dead just this morning. Zora was long gone. Robin was a killer, so Audrey doubted that she'd be so calm, talking in the middle of town.
Ashley, maybe? The person had looked kind of tall. Audrey searched her memory for a relevant announcement. The military jerk had been mad yesterday morning, something about... Marley. Got blown up.
Ashley and Marley were a thing, weren't they?
Welp.
This signature intentionally left blank.
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delicateMachine
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Ashley unslung the bag from her shoulder, carefully pushing it in through the window. There was a quiet thud as it landed on the floor. Ashley waited a few seconds.
Alright, it doesn't seem that my bag has been ventilated, probably safe to enter.
Ash cautiously peeked through the window. Nothing had changed, at least from what she could tell. Someone was still in the bed, which struck Ashley as odd. Before she could give it much more thought, however, the wind intensified, and she hurried through the window, swearing under her breath as she hit her head on the top of the window.
The cabin was still dark and cold, but at least the wind was blocked. After closing the window behind her, Ashley took a step towards the bed, the figure of the girl becoming clearer. "Er, thanks for the hospitality- holy shit you have a knife." Ash immediately fled to the opposite corner of the cabin.
Great, I just trapped myself in a cabin with an armed girl, and I have no idea who the hell she is. Good job, Ash.
Ashley swallowed nervously. "Since you haven't attacked me yet I'll assume you aren't going to kill me, so, uh, could you please drop that, whoever you are?" It had never been the smartest of ideas to enter a confined space with an unknown person, but the possibility of finding a friendly face plus shelter had been an irresistible temptation.
No one's attacking anyone yet, this could still turn out well.
Ashley tried to think of the killers who were still at large, but drew up a blank. She'd stopped paying attention to the announcements immediately following Marley's death, so she was significantly out of the loop. The only female killer on the most recent announcements had been Anastasia. From what Ash could remember of her voice, she didn't sound much like the cabin's other inhabitant. She was back where she started, completely clueless.
Guess it's your move, mystery girl.
Alright, it doesn't seem that my bag has been ventilated, probably safe to enter.
Ash cautiously peeked through the window. Nothing had changed, at least from what she could tell. Someone was still in the bed, which struck Ashley as odd. Before she could give it much more thought, however, the wind intensified, and she hurried through the window, swearing under her breath as she hit her head on the top of the window.
The cabin was still dark and cold, but at least the wind was blocked. After closing the window behind her, Ashley took a step towards the bed, the figure of the girl becoming clearer. "Er, thanks for the hospitality- holy shit you have a knife." Ash immediately fled to the opposite corner of the cabin.
Great, I just trapped myself in a cabin with an armed girl, and I have no idea who the hell she is. Good job, Ash.
Ashley swallowed nervously. "Since you haven't attacked me yet I'll assume you aren't going to kill me, so, uh, could you please drop that, whoever you are?" It had never been the smartest of ideas to enter a confined space with an unknown person, but the possibility of finding a friendly face plus shelter had been an irresistible temptation.
No one's attacking anyone yet, this could still turn out well.
Ashley tried to think of the killers who were still at large, but drew up a blank. She'd stopped paying attention to the announcements immediately following Marley's death, so she was significantly out of the loop. The only female killer on the most recent announcements had been Anastasia. From what Ash could remember of her voice, she didn't sound much like the cabin's other inhabitant. She was back where she started, completely clueless.
Guess it's your move, mystery girl.
Becky was unimpressed. Since Ashley had first opened her mouth and crapped herself at the sight of her knife, she’d been unimpressed. The whole time Ashley asked her to put it down, Becky was frowning an unimpressed frown. Really, she was half a room away and crippled; even Becky Long could only do so much with just a knife, and not even one that looked good for throwing.
But, because she really wanted that first aid kit, she put the knife down. Not out of reach, but she put it down all the same.
“It’s Becky, Ashley.” She said, still looking terribly disappointed at her. To think that she’d gotten so worked up over someone trying to kill her, and then the moment Ashley had gotten in she’d started panicking over a little weapon. It was just embarrassing, almost as much for herself as it must have been for Ashley. Thankfully, no-one would ever have to know about her own worries moments ago, and whatever happened to Ashley was hardly her concern.
There was the fleeting feeling of an incoming awkward pause as the two eyed each other, so Becky, in all her impatience to actually not have her leg amputated due to infection, broke it. “Can you just bring over the medicine already?” her hand was reaching for the knife as she said it, out of much more of a desire to grab hold of the handle and squeeze it for comfort, but in the end her palm only rested on it.
“And some food, if you have some.” She continued, her growling stomach reminding her of how long it’d been since she ate.
She may have been utterly hopeless at entering a room, but if Ash could give her free stuff then that was good enough for Becky.
But, because she really wanted that first aid kit, she put the knife down. Not out of reach, but she put it down all the same.
“It’s Becky, Ashley.” She said, still looking terribly disappointed at her. To think that she’d gotten so worked up over someone trying to kill her, and then the moment Ashley had gotten in she’d started panicking over a little weapon. It was just embarrassing, almost as much for herself as it must have been for Ashley. Thankfully, no-one would ever have to know about her own worries moments ago, and whatever happened to Ashley was hardly her concern.
There was the fleeting feeling of an incoming awkward pause as the two eyed each other, so Becky, in all her impatience to actually not have her leg amputated due to infection, broke it. “Can you just bring over the medicine already?” her hand was reaching for the knife as she said it, out of much more of a desire to grab hold of the handle and squeeze it for comfort, but in the end her palm only rested on it.
“And some food, if you have some.” She continued, her growling stomach reminding her of how long it’d been since she ate.
She may have been utterly hopeless at entering a room, but if Ash could give her free stuff then that was good enough for Becky.
Audrey shook her head to clear it of thoughts. In the Program, it was life or death, and who had been involved with who hardly seemed the appropriate topic to be concerned about at the moment. As the girl who Audrey was pretty sure was Ashley climbed through the window, Audrey made a dash for the cabin's wall, then crept over towards the open window.
Just as the window closed. Rats.
Well, Ashley and whoever she was talking to inside were probably distracted by each other. She'd just wait a few seconds, and maybe try to open the window a crack to figure out what was going on. There weren't any raised voices, at least that she could hear through the closed window, so she reached for the window, hoping it wasn't stuck. It slid open a crack easily. Audrey quickly dropped her hands from the window again.
Was this what she had really become? Crouching beneath windows, listening to people talk like some sort of creeper?
... Yeah. Yeah, it was.
In the end, she didn't hear too much, only enough to piece together that someone was wounded and hungry. Along with the fact that nobody was yelling or screaming yet, that was good enough for her. She was fairly sure that the situation was safe.
This was her last chance to turn around, though, head back into the wind and the rain, somewhere where there weren't any people. That was probably still preferable, in terms of not getting killed, to two people who she wasn't absolutely sure weren't killers. Yet she didn't leave.
Audrey hated to admit it, but she was a little lonely. At school, she'd always had friends, and at home she'd always had her parents. Here, she'd had Frank, and now she was alone.
It'd be fine, talking to them. Just like school. She was just a normal girl, she thought, and she tried to ease herself into who she had been, before all this. Just another girl. Friendly. Popular. Talkative. Somebody who didn't think about the Program too much. Somebody who didn't know who Frank was, besides just another football player.
She didn't know if she was putting masks on or taking them off.
Audrey slid the window the rest of the way open, knocked twice on the windowsill to alert them that she was there, and stood up, half-expecting despite everything that she'd see a gun pointed at her and have to duck back down.
"Hey," she said, a tired smile slipping onto her face. "Some sort of party going on in here?"
Just as the window closed. Rats.
Well, Ashley and whoever she was talking to inside were probably distracted by each other. She'd just wait a few seconds, and maybe try to open the window a crack to figure out what was going on. There weren't any raised voices, at least that she could hear through the closed window, so she reached for the window, hoping it wasn't stuck. It slid open a crack easily. Audrey quickly dropped her hands from the window again.
Was this what she had really become? Crouching beneath windows, listening to people talk like some sort of creeper?
... Yeah. Yeah, it was.
In the end, she didn't hear too much, only enough to piece together that someone was wounded and hungry. Along with the fact that nobody was yelling or screaming yet, that was good enough for her. She was fairly sure that the situation was safe.
This was her last chance to turn around, though, head back into the wind and the rain, somewhere where there weren't any people. That was probably still preferable, in terms of not getting killed, to two people who she wasn't absolutely sure weren't killers. Yet she didn't leave.
Audrey hated to admit it, but she was a little lonely. At school, she'd always had friends, and at home she'd always had her parents. Here, she'd had Frank, and now she was alone.
It'd be fine, talking to them. Just like school. She was just a normal girl, she thought, and she tried to ease herself into who she had been, before all this. Just another girl. Friendly. Popular. Talkative. Somebody who didn't think about the Program too much. Somebody who didn't know who Frank was, besides just another football player.
She didn't know if she was putting masks on or taking them off.
Audrey slid the window the rest of the way open, knocked twice on the windowsill to alert them that she was there, and stood up, half-expecting despite everything that she'd see a gun pointed at her and have to duck back down.
"Hey," she said, a tired smile slipping onto her face. "Some sort of party going on in here?"
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delicateMachine
- Posts: 295
- Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2018 6:26 pm
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Well. I may have overreacted a bit.
It'd stand to reason that anyone who had survived this far into the Program would have some means to defend themselves. It was sort of pathetic to panic so easily. Still, it was the first time that Ashley had encountered an armed person up close. There'd be Anastasia by the slope, but she had been a decent distance away, along with not being aware of Ash's presence. Facing a weapon right in front of you was different.
At least the identity of the cabin's inhabitant had been revealed. Rebecca Long. Energetic, did martial arts. That was pretty much all of what Ash knew about Becky. They had never really hung out together.
At least I know she isn't a killer. Probably.
At least, Ash didn't remember hearing her name on the announcements. Seeing as she missed about half of them, that didn't really mean much. As the girl was rather obviously injured once Ashley had gotten a decent look at her, the odds of her attacking Ashley were pretty slim, anyway.
"Medicine. Right." Ashley nodded, removing herself from the cabin wall. She crouched down over and opened her bag, making sure to keep an eye on Becky's knife. Injured or not, Ashley really didn't want to risk dealing with a stab wound.
At least I'm accomplishing something.
If all she ended up doing in the Program was giving an injured girl food and medicine, Ashley was okay with that. Every little bit counted, whatever she could manage with the little time she had remaining. "Haven't used any of the first aid, got an MRE and half a loaf of bread if you don't mind sharing."
Before she could give the supplies to Becky, Ashley was interrupted as a third girl climbed through the window. Audrey McKee. Ash had always liked her. Friendly, patriotic, enjoyed jogging. Their interactions had never been deeper than short conversations in the halls or class, but it was still nice to see a friendly face.
Ashley smiled as bright a smile as she could manage under the circumstances. "Sorry, Audrey, guess we forgot to invite you. Been busy with fearing for our lives, being constantly in danger, and dealing with complete emotional breakdowns. You know, the usual."
It'd stand to reason that anyone who had survived this far into the Program would have some means to defend themselves. It was sort of pathetic to panic so easily. Still, it was the first time that Ashley had encountered an armed person up close. There'd be Anastasia by the slope, but she had been a decent distance away, along with not being aware of Ash's presence. Facing a weapon right in front of you was different.
At least the identity of the cabin's inhabitant had been revealed. Rebecca Long. Energetic, did martial arts. That was pretty much all of what Ash knew about Becky. They had never really hung out together.
At least I know she isn't a killer. Probably.
At least, Ash didn't remember hearing her name on the announcements. Seeing as she missed about half of them, that didn't really mean much. As the girl was rather obviously injured once Ashley had gotten a decent look at her, the odds of her attacking Ashley were pretty slim, anyway.
"Medicine. Right." Ashley nodded, removing herself from the cabin wall. She crouched down over and opened her bag, making sure to keep an eye on Becky's knife. Injured or not, Ashley really didn't want to risk dealing with a stab wound.
At least I'm accomplishing something.
If all she ended up doing in the Program was giving an injured girl food and medicine, Ashley was okay with that. Every little bit counted, whatever she could manage with the little time she had remaining. "Haven't used any of the first aid, got an MRE and half a loaf of bread if you don't mind sharing."
Before she could give the supplies to Becky, Ashley was interrupted as a third girl climbed through the window. Audrey McKee. Ash had always liked her. Friendly, patriotic, enjoyed jogging. Their interactions had never been deeper than short conversations in the halls or class, but it was still nice to see a friendly face.
Ashley smiled as bright a smile as she could manage under the circumstances. "Sorry, Audrey, guess we forgot to invite you. Been busy with fearing for our lives, being constantly in danger, and dealing with complete emotional breakdowns. You know, the usual."
“Yeah, fine. Whatever.”
Rather than remain paranoid of Ashley, in spite of her apparent harmlessness, Becky’s only concern was getting something in her belly. She may have had bad experiences with other people so far in the program, whether it came to fighting for her life or getting crippled forever, but as long as she had her knife, she wasn’t in any real danger from the girl who'd crapped her pants at the sight of it. She could remain cool, if not impatient.
Audrey’s unexpected entrance, however, made Becky grab the knife again without even thinking.
She shot a horrible glare at Audrey, the knife pointed straight at her, but Ashley got her attention first. The instant that she had cracked her deadpan snark was long enough for Becky's guard to relax, if only slightly, and the knife went back down to the bed. The fact that Audrey had let herself in, however, kept the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.
She wanted to say something at her new guest, maybe tell her off for just waltzing in without a care, but it seemed that she’d gotten even hungrier in the few seconds that Ashley had stopped bringing her the food, and her leg had begun throbbing with pain again. That, or she’d stopped ignoring everything again with all of the distractions and the tantalizing supplies that Ashley was taking longer and longer to bring over.
“Can you just bring the food over already, Ashley?” she snapped as she said it, but it didn’t matter. Right now, all she was worried about was feeling better, and Audrey was just a minor distraction from it.
Whether or not Audrey was dangerous, Becky had not even considered.
Rather than remain paranoid of Ashley, in spite of her apparent harmlessness, Becky’s only concern was getting something in her belly. She may have had bad experiences with other people so far in the program, whether it came to fighting for her life or getting crippled forever, but as long as she had her knife, she wasn’t in any real danger from the girl who'd crapped her pants at the sight of it. She could remain cool, if not impatient.
Audrey’s unexpected entrance, however, made Becky grab the knife again without even thinking.
She shot a horrible glare at Audrey, the knife pointed straight at her, but Ashley got her attention first. The instant that she had cracked her deadpan snark was long enough for Becky's guard to relax, if only slightly, and the knife went back down to the bed. The fact that Audrey had let herself in, however, kept the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end.
She wanted to say something at her new guest, maybe tell her off for just waltzing in without a care, but it seemed that she’d gotten even hungrier in the few seconds that Ashley had stopped bringing her the food, and her leg had begun throbbing with pain again. That, or she’d stopped ignoring everything again with all of the distractions and the tantalizing supplies that Ashley was taking longer and longer to bring over.
“Can you just bring the food over already, Ashley?” she snapped as she said it, but it didn’t matter. Right now, all she was worried about was feeling better, and Audrey was just a minor distraction from it.
Whether or not Audrey was dangerous, Becky had not even considered.
Maybe she shouldn't have climbed in right after she'd said that. The knife in the wounded girl's hands wasn't exactly welcoming, and Audrey almost let herself tense up, her mind jumping to the glove on her hand. But nothing happened, and things went back to normal. As normal as they could get with someone glaring daggers at her.
She recognized both of the other girls in the room. Ashley, like she'd suspected, and Becky, in the bed. No guns, no corpses, nobody sticking a knife in her back, at least not yet. Safe enough for her to stay for a little while.
"Just the usual," she agreed, the smile on her lips only a hint of a curve now. "It's good to see you too." There'd been a hint of truth in what Ashley had said, behind the humor, and Audrey could imagine where the emotional breakdown came into the story.
She didn't press it, didn't ask. Asking was a stupid idea. It was rude, it was turning something that was meant to be an offhand joke into something sad. But maybe the real reason was that she really didn't want to know, just wanted to keep pretending that every classmate's death was just another step towards living and nothing more.
"I'm not here to cause any trouble," she said, as if it was almost an afterthought.
She recognized both of the other girls in the room. Ashley, like she'd suspected, and Becky, in the bed. No guns, no corpses, nobody sticking a knife in her back, at least not yet. Safe enough for her to stay for a little while.
"Just the usual," she agreed, the smile on her lips only a hint of a curve now. "It's good to see you too." There'd been a hint of truth in what Ashley had said, behind the humor, and Audrey could imagine where the emotional breakdown came into the story.
She didn't press it, didn't ask. Asking was a stupid idea. It was rude, it was turning something that was meant to be an offhand joke into something sad. But maybe the real reason was that she really didn't want to know, just wanted to keep pretending that every classmate's death was just another step towards living and nothing more.
"I'm not here to cause any trouble," she said, as if it was almost an afterthought.
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delicateMachine
- Posts: 295
- Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2018 6:26 pm
- Location: void
"Gah, sorry." Ashley said, turning around and handing Becky her share of the food. The girl was irritable, but it'd be pretty damn miraculous to not be easily pissed off this late into the Program, especially with an injury. Hopefully the mostly one-sided tension in the room would die down a bit once Becky had some food in her stomach.
Finding a spare chair, Ash moved it against the wall and sat down, facing the other girls. "Well, looks like we're going to be taking shelter in here until the weather calms down a bit. Like Audrey said, I'm pretty sure none of us are in the mood to start anything. Might as well enjoy the opportunity to breath a little, right?"
Any civil conversation, any last bastion of normalcy was welcome. Not to run away from the reality of the Program, as Ashley had come to terms with that long ago. Simply enjoying the company of another, even with the threat of death looming over their heads, was enough.
Finding a spare chair, Ash moved it against the wall and sat down, facing the other girls. "Well, looks like we're going to be taking shelter in here until the weather calms down a bit. Like Audrey said, I'm pretty sure none of us are in the mood to start anything. Might as well enjoy the opportunity to breath a little, right?"
Any civil conversation, any last bastion of normalcy was welcome. Not to run away from the reality of the Program, as Ashley had come to terms with that long ago. Simply enjoying the company of another, even with the threat of death looming over their heads, was enough.