((Saachi Nidal continued from PokeStop))
Saachi had no idea how much time had passed when she eventually stopped running. She had heard Jay's footsteps behind her, so she knew that he was safe. No need to stop for him. She had just needed to keep moving, make sure she was safe before worrying about where she was. And that’s what she did, run while the world passed her by even as her legs began to ache.
Eventually, her lungs had finally caught up to her feet. She felt sick, like her stomach was trying to crawl out of her mouth. She fell her knees cave in, her body giving out after being pushed to lengths it had never been used to. She wanted to continue moving, but her body didn’t want to cooperate.
So, she laid there, face down on the floor. Everything ached, her breathing was heavy and her recent attempt to further herself in the game replayed once again as the flowers gently caressed her skin and clothes.
She was never the type to skirt around the issue when it came to self-analysis. That was a disaster. She had frozen, too caught up in her idea of what a murder should be like. Too busy wanting it to be how she imagined it would be. Quick and efficient. That attempt was anything but that. Each time she went through it in her mind, she found something she could’ve done better. She could’ve moved faster to follow up Jay. She should've just swung instead of trying to perfect her aim. She should've seen Lyndi coming and reacted. She had always known that she worked harder than others, so the fact that she still failed clawed at her mind. Each mistake ripped her soul apart and the blood that coloured her face and hair served as a harsh reminder of her failures.
Jay was also becoming a concern. There was next to no time between her calling for help and him killing Lyndi. She swore it was almost instantaneous. Would that mean that Jay could just as easily turn on her? Saachi could envision that happening. He could take his chance now, while her body refused to follow her instructions. She’d be trapped in a net of her own design. Then again, she still had one advantage. She had the cleaver. Stubbornly attached to her right hand, she had put the last of her current strength into making sure she never lost her grip. She was never going to make that mistake again.
She could hear Jay coming. She needed to move. Her body still didn’t want to. Any sudden movements would probably make her feel sick too. Still, she couldn’t just lay down on the floor like this. Fighting against her exhausted body, Saachi groggily turned herself over. While not ideal, it was certainly a nicer view than dirt.
“Nice job back there, Jay.”
She felt obliged to say something to fill the silent air around them. She didn’t know what was going through his mind, but she knew that it probably was better to stay on his good side. Ease into the conversation, rather than diving headfirst.
When The Dust Settles
Private
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jimmydalad
- Posts: 266
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((Jay Harland continued from PokeStop))
“Fuck off, Saachi.”
Jay was hurting. His face hurt from where Ramona had punched it, his legs hurt because even he could only run around for so long in one day, and his pride hurt because that had been a goddamn mess.
He was doubled over, but still standing. He gingerly touched the part of his face which had been introduced to Ramona’s fist, and winced in response. He knew what this was, but it had been a while since he’d last had a black eye. It hadn’t been a good look then, and he doubted it’d look good now. Everyone bitching about how he’d gotten into trouble and needed to watch his temper, blah de fucking blah.
He groaned, ignoring Chop Susie lying across from him. He felt a powerful rumble in his gut, and his throat was equally dry. Defeated, he dropped onto his ass without a thought for the flowers under it.
A flash of steel and flesh. A bloody cleaver in his hand. He couldn't dodge thinking about what he’d just done, and how he'd done it without really even trying.
“She’s dead, isn’t she?”
“Fuck off, Saachi.”
Jay was hurting. His face hurt from where Ramona had punched it, his legs hurt because even he could only run around for so long in one day, and his pride hurt because that had been a goddamn mess.
He was doubled over, but still standing. He gingerly touched the part of his face which had been introduced to Ramona’s fist, and winced in response. He knew what this was, but it had been a while since he’d last had a black eye. It hadn’t been a good look then, and he doubted it’d look good now. Everyone bitching about how he’d gotten into trouble and needed to watch his temper, blah de fucking blah.
He groaned, ignoring Chop Susie lying across from him. He felt a powerful rumble in his gut, and his throat was equally dry. Defeated, he dropped onto his ass without a thought for the flowers under it.
A flash of steel and flesh. A bloody cleaver in his hand. He couldn't dodge thinking about what he’d just done, and how he'd done it without really even trying.
“She’s dead, isn’t she?”
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jimmydalad
- Posts: 266
- Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2018 6:38 pm
Saachi bit her lip at Jay's response. Another mistake. When was she gonna stop doing that?
She didn't know what to say after that. She had a feeling anything she said would irritate Jay more. It was only now, looking at Jay in the face, did she realise that he'd been marked by Ramona. Another bitter memory of the terrible encounter. Maybe she should've taken solace in the fact that there was one less person to worry about. One less competitor to get in her way. Doing that wouldn't make this situation any better. It wouldn't make Jay feel any better either.
Instead, she focused on things that she could do. She probably should start with the blood. She knew she couldn't do much about the splotches in her hair. The blood was still wet on her face, though. The sweat had caused it to start dripping onto her clothes as well, her shoulders tainted with red. Reaching into her bag with her free hand, she searched for the antiseptic wipes once again. Once she did, she took a few wipes and drenched them over her face, letting the blood pool in them. It was liberating, in the end. Feeling the cool wipes lift the red liquid off of her skin. It probably wouldn't get all the blood off, but it would be a start.
"Yes, she is."
Saachi didn't really know how else to say it to him. Elaborating on the eyes going lifeless in front of her was not something she thought Jay wanted to hear. She doubted anyone would enjoy watching someone die before them. Watching their eyes fill with life suddenly dull as their last vestiges of existence go away. That transition between human to body was normally something sanctimonious. Here, it was just a part of life. Saachi's experience of watching Lyndi die was like some sick and twisted 4D experience. It was better not to expose Jay to that.
It seemed that the wipes were gonna take as much blood as they would. Taking them in her hand, she discarded them by her bag. Most of it had come off, but a few stubborn drops were located here and there. Taking out another wipe, she started to intently rub her face. She just wanted to feel clean.
She let the conversation linger, letting Jay have time to think. Once she had gotten the last bits of blood from her face, she discarded the last wipe with the others. She looked at Jay, trying to comprehend what he was going through. It was her fault that he had to act. It probably was an inevitability that he would kill someone, but it should've been later. At least Saachi had time to mentally prepare herself, hype herself up and know what she would be getting herself into. Jay never got that luxury.
"Are you ok?" Saachi asked tentatively. She hoped he was able to take it, if not for his own sake, then her safety.
She didn't know what to say after that. She had a feeling anything she said would irritate Jay more. It was only now, looking at Jay in the face, did she realise that he'd been marked by Ramona. Another bitter memory of the terrible encounter. Maybe she should've taken solace in the fact that there was one less person to worry about. One less competitor to get in her way. Doing that wouldn't make this situation any better. It wouldn't make Jay feel any better either.
Instead, she focused on things that she could do. She probably should start with the blood. She knew she couldn't do much about the splotches in her hair. The blood was still wet on her face, though. The sweat had caused it to start dripping onto her clothes as well, her shoulders tainted with red. Reaching into her bag with her free hand, she searched for the antiseptic wipes once again. Once she did, she took a few wipes and drenched them over her face, letting the blood pool in them. It was liberating, in the end. Feeling the cool wipes lift the red liquid off of her skin. It probably wouldn't get all the blood off, but it would be a start.
"Yes, she is."
Saachi didn't really know how else to say it to him. Elaborating on the eyes going lifeless in front of her was not something she thought Jay wanted to hear. She doubted anyone would enjoy watching someone die before them. Watching their eyes fill with life suddenly dull as their last vestiges of existence go away. That transition between human to body was normally something sanctimonious. Here, it was just a part of life. Saachi's experience of watching Lyndi die was like some sick and twisted 4D experience. It was better not to expose Jay to that.
It seemed that the wipes were gonna take as much blood as they would. Taking them in her hand, she discarded them by her bag. Most of it had come off, but a few stubborn drops were located here and there. Taking out another wipe, she started to intently rub her face. She just wanted to feel clean.
She let the conversation linger, letting Jay have time to think. Once she had gotten the last bits of blood from her face, she discarded the last wipe with the others. She looked at Jay, trying to comprehend what he was going through. It was her fault that he had to act. It probably was an inevitability that he would kill someone, but it should've been later. At least Saachi had time to mentally prepare herself, hype herself up and know what she would be getting herself into. Jay never got that luxury.
"Are you ok?" Saachi asked tentatively. She hoped he was able to take it, if not for his own sake, then her safety.
(Minus accessories)
(Minus accessories)
Was he?
He turned away from Saachi, putting his hands on his hips and sticking his nose in the air. He had a feeling anything she said would irritate him more. That, and he didn’t really want people to see him feeling the way he was right then.
So, how was he feeling? He’d taken a life, chopped her right in the face. It’d taken a fraction of a second, and that was it. He was a murderer, and the blood was on his hands. Literally.
He looked down at the streak that had gotten on there when he’d pulled out the cleaver from Lyndi’s skull (because that was something he thought he’d end up doing today). Raised it to his face, sniffed it a little. It smelled just like any other blood he’d smelt before. Lowered his hand again.
What did this mean for him now? He didn’t know how he felt, but he had a few ideas what was supposed to be the case. He was supposed to be terrified, overcome with guilt, filled with remorse. That’s how people were supposed to feel when they took a life. The people that didn’t were the villains in the slashers, the monsters in his stories. The murderers in society.
He scoffed. That was ridiculous.
Yeah, he’d killed Lyndi, but so what? They were supposed to be killing each other, otherwise they’d die. No red cards, free pass. He’d say he felt bad for her, but he didn’t. Really. The bitch started it by attacking Saachi, so it was her own damn fault.
Come to think of it, if Saachi had just done her job, he wouldn’t have had to get his hands dirty in the first place.
“So, are you going to keep screwing up like that next time, or what?”
He turned to her. He did not look pleased.
He turned away from Saachi, putting his hands on his hips and sticking his nose in the air. He had a feeling anything she said would irritate him more. That, and he didn’t really want people to see him feeling the way he was right then.
So, how was he feeling? He’d taken a life, chopped her right in the face. It’d taken a fraction of a second, and that was it. He was a murderer, and the blood was on his hands. Literally.
He looked down at the streak that had gotten on there when he’d pulled out the cleaver from Lyndi’s skull (because that was something he thought he’d end up doing today). Raised it to his face, sniffed it a little. It smelled just like any other blood he’d smelt before. Lowered his hand again.
What did this mean for him now? He didn’t know how he felt, but he had a few ideas what was supposed to be the case. He was supposed to be terrified, overcome with guilt, filled with remorse. That’s how people were supposed to feel when they took a life. The people that didn’t were the villains in the slashers, the monsters in his stories. The murderers in society.
He scoffed. That was ridiculous.
Yeah, he’d killed Lyndi, but so what? They were supposed to be killing each other, otherwise they’d die. No red cards, free pass. He’d say he felt bad for her, but he didn’t. Really. The bitch started it by attacking Saachi, so it was her own damn fault.
Come to think of it, if Saachi had just done her job, he wouldn’t have had to get his hands dirty in the first place.
“So, are you going to keep screwing up like that next time, or what?”
He turned to her. He did not look pleased.
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jimmydalad
- Posts: 266
- Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2018 6:38 pm
Saachi glowered back at Jay.
"Of course I'm not. I can assure you that it was a one-time thing."
It looked like he was still an asshole. That was a good sign. Admittedly, she was perturbed when Jay started sniffing Lyndi's blood. She didn't believe that fully mentally adjusted people did that. When she thought about it further, fully mentally adjusted people didn't go around killing each other on a random island either. It was probably for the best that she avoid that line of thinking.
Her body was starting to cooperate and Jay wasn't immediately going to kill her. Those were successes in her book. Each minor victory could build onto a greater one. She still couldn't stop thinking about everything she could've done better. However, she had to tell herself to just focus on the next chance. She could redeem herself then.
"You needed to get a kill eventually anyway, so you could consider it as tackling the inevitable. Though I will take responsibility in fucking up. I should've killed Felicia."
She always preferred dealing in truths than unnecessary lies. Lies come back to haunt you most of the time. She could never get away with a lie back at home, especially with how omnipresent her mom and dad were. As time went on, she found it better to deal with truths, even if people were hurt or offended. Better someone be hurt while she had some control over it rather than finding out through others.
By this point, she had stopped lying on the floor. As comfy as it was, she knew that she needed to get back into the game. Saachi still needed her kill. That kill was her first ticket off of the island. After that, the others would just be taking out the competition. The cleaver was dirty with Lyndi's blood. Getting out more wipes, she went about cleaning the blade. Clean the blade, get her head in the right mindset and go from there. That seemed like a decent plan.
"Jay, if you don't mind me asking, what is it like killing a person?"
Before, she had dealt with only theories or her imagination with regards to that important question. She felt that it was important to know what to expect so that she didn't lose herself to the unexpected. Now that someone who wasn't an enemy had done so, she felt compelled to ask. To know. If anything, it'd also help her see more into Jay.
"Of course I'm not. I can assure you that it was a one-time thing."
It looked like he was still an asshole. That was a good sign. Admittedly, she was perturbed when Jay started sniffing Lyndi's blood. She didn't believe that fully mentally adjusted people did that. When she thought about it further, fully mentally adjusted people didn't go around killing each other on a random island either. It was probably for the best that she avoid that line of thinking.
Her body was starting to cooperate and Jay wasn't immediately going to kill her. Those were successes in her book. Each minor victory could build onto a greater one. She still couldn't stop thinking about everything she could've done better. However, she had to tell herself to just focus on the next chance. She could redeem herself then.
"You needed to get a kill eventually anyway, so you could consider it as tackling the inevitable. Though I will take responsibility in fucking up. I should've killed Felicia."
She always preferred dealing in truths than unnecessary lies. Lies come back to haunt you most of the time. She could never get away with a lie back at home, especially with how omnipresent her mom and dad were. As time went on, she found it better to deal with truths, even if people were hurt or offended. Better someone be hurt while she had some control over it rather than finding out through others.
By this point, she had stopped lying on the floor. As comfy as it was, she knew that she needed to get back into the game. Saachi still needed her kill. That kill was her first ticket off of the island. After that, the others would just be taking out the competition. The cleaver was dirty with Lyndi's blood. Getting out more wipes, she went about cleaning the blade. Clean the blade, get her head in the right mindset and go from there. That seemed like a decent plan.
"Jay, if you don't mind me asking, what is it like killing a person?"
Before, she had dealt with only theories or her imagination with regards to that important question. She felt that it was important to know what to expect so that she didn't lose herself to the unexpected. Now that someone who wasn't an enemy had done so, she felt compelled to ask. To know. If anything, it'd also help her see more into Jay.
He was right, everything Saachi was saying was irritating him more. Trying to comfort him for picking up after her mistake, and acting like she was supposed to be doing all the heavy lifting. Fuck you, Saachi, it’s not like he couldn’t do it. He just made it pretty damn clear that he could, after all.
Yeah, that was it. She was being a condescending bitch, and she still shouldn’t have screwed up the plan in the first place. Chop Susie was acting really Chop Shitty, and she was just lucky he didn’t feel like sticking a cleaver in her face too.
He paused. Too soon, maybe.
The silence was broken by Saachi continuing to open her freaking mouth. God, she couldn’t just drop this topic, could she?
“Maybe you should actually do it yourself next time and find out.”
He turned his back to her again, staring off into the field, folding his arms. He flashed back to the moment when the cleaver went down, the sound, the moment afterwards when he pulled it back out.
It was… well, not vivid. He thought it’d be, like, something that would be picture perfect, but it didn’t feel that way. He’d been so distracted by everything going on, acted so fast, that it had just been something like throwing a bottle in the trash. Over in an instant, move on, do something else. Only instead of keeping some anti-polluting owl happy, it was cutting a bitch’s face in half.
“Quick. It was quick. And, I dunno, it wasn’t hard or anything. I mean, I just went for it, and it was done. That’s all it was. No big deal.”
He tensed. Maybe he should’ve remembered it more clearly.
Speaking of: “You going to stop hogging that cleaver now?”
Yeah, that was it. She was being a condescending bitch, and she still shouldn’t have screwed up the plan in the first place. Chop Susie was acting really Chop Shitty, and she was just lucky he didn’t feel like sticking a cleaver in her face too.
He paused. Too soon, maybe.
The silence was broken by Saachi continuing to open her freaking mouth. God, she couldn’t just drop this topic, could she?
“Maybe you should actually do it yourself next time and find out.”
He turned his back to her again, staring off into the field, folding his arms. He flashed back to the moment when the cleaver went down, the sound, the moment afterwards when he pulled it back out.
It was… well, not vivid. He thought it’d be, like, something that would be picture perfect, but it didn’t feel that way. He’d been so distracted by everything going on, acted so fast, that it had just been something like throwing a bottle in the trash. Over in an instant, move on, do something else. Only instead of keeping some anti-polluting owl happy, it was cutting a bitch’s face in half.
“Quick. It was quick. And, I dunno, it wasn’t hard or anything. I mean, I just went for it, and it was done. That’s all it was. No big deal.”
He tensed. Maybe he should’ve remembered it more clearly.
Speaking of: “You going to stop hogging that cleaver now?”
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jimmydalad
- Posts: 266
- Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2018 6:38 pm
Saachi didn't appreciate Jay's comments. While she did mess up, he didn't have to be such an asshole about it. She didn't speak but instead rolled her eyes as Jay turned his back on her.
His answer was not as helpful as she expected. That was it? Like no emotional pangs, no thought processes or anything? Saachi felt confused about how easy Jay made it seem. She needed to play the game to survive, so it was oddly relieving to hear that it was easy for Jay, but knowing that Jay was supposed to be an ally and yet was easily able to just kill while still acting like it was no big deal didn't sit easily with her. Lyndi could easily be her one day, after all.
Saachi's grip on the meat cleaver instinctively tightened. Saachi wanted to remind Jay that the meat cleaver was her assigned weapon, not his, so she wasn't hogging anything. There was legitimately no reason for Saachi to ever give Jay her cleaver. He had already gotten his kill and her cleaver was literally one of the only things she had to protect herself. Saachi knew of the implications that came with her giving her only weapon to Jay and there was no way she was going to do that.
Yet, she couldn't just flatly say no. Jay could just flip out and attack her if she did that. She didn't particularly fancy being alone either, especially with how things had played out today.
"I still need to get a kill, Jay. So I hope you understand that I'm not really willing to give over my cleaver just yet. Once I get a kill under my belt, we can discuss it then."
It was better than saying no, at least it was in Saachi's mind. Jay was the guy who not only just killed a girl but also caught her in the net at the beginning and tried kicking her to death. Giving away her only leverage over him was not only stupid, but also life threatening. Saachi was banking on the next person they kill having something Jay could use as a weapon. It was a risk, but she believed it was better than just giving away her means of defense or provoking the tiger that Jay had become.
She stood up, dropping the dirty wipe along with all the others. Open space everywhere, as far as the eye could see. While beautiful, Saachi knew that staying here was a risk. If someone had a gun, there would be nowhere for them to run.
"Well we have two options," Saachi commented, moving the conversation away from the cleaver. "We can stay or we can try to find somewhere with a bit more shelter and cover. We're basically just sitting ducks waiting to be shot right now. Your decision, though."
She might as well leave that decision to Jay. At least give him something to do so that he wouldn't stew on being annoyed at Saachi.
His answer was not as helpful as she expected. That was it? Like no emotional pangs, no thought processes or anything? Saachi felt confused about how easy Jay made it seem. She needed to play the game to survive, so it was oddly relieving to hear that it was easy for Jay, but knowing that Jay was supposed to be an ally and yet was easily able to just kill while still acting like it was no big deal didn't sit easily with her. Lyndi could easily be her one day, after all.
Saachi's grip on the meat cleaver instinctively tightened. Saachi wanted to remind Jay that the meat cleaver was her assigned weapon, not his, so she wasn't hogging anything. There was legitimately no reason for Saachi to ever give Jay her cleaver. He had already gotten his kill and her cleaver was literally one of the only things she had to protect herself. Saachi knew of the implications that came with her giving her only weapon to Jay and there was no way she was going to do that.
Yet, she couldn't just flatly say no. Jay could just flip out and attack her if she did that. She didn't particularly fancy being alone either, especially with how things had played out today.
"I still need to get a kill, Jay. So I hope you understand that I'm not really willing to give over my cleaver just yet. Once I get a kill under my belt, we can discuss it then."
It was better than saying no, at least it was in Saachi's mind. Jay was the guy who not only just killed a girl but also caught her in the net at the beginning and tried kicking her to death. Giving away her only leverage over him was not only stupid, but also life threatening. Saachi was banking on the next person they kill having something Jay could use as a weapon. It was a risk, but she believed it was better than just giving away her means of defense or provoking the tiger that Jay had become.
She stood up, dropping the dirty wipe along with all the others. Open space everywhere, as far as the eye could see. While beautiful, Saachi knew that staying here was a risk. If someone had a gun, there would be nowhere for them to run.
"Well we have two options," Saachi commented, moving the conversation away from the cleaver. "We can stay or we can try to find somewhere with a bit more shelter and cover. We're basically just sitting ducks waiting to be shot right now. Your decision, though."
She might as well leave that decision to Jay. At least give him something to do so that he wouldn't stew on being annoyed at Saachi.
Jay shot Saachi back another irritated look. God, this bitch could talk, couldn’t she? Every point she made had to be so fricking formalised, like she was a teacher talking down at him. A teacher hogging a cleaver that had been used in a murder today.
He turned back again, stepping off a few paces as she continued rambling about them being out in the open or whatever. Nag nag nag nag nag nag NAG NAG NAG NAG NAG NAG -
“Will you shut the fuck up already?!”
He’d turned back to face her, already going red, as he shot her an even less pleased look than the first.
“Just shut up with your fucking psychoanalysis of everything! Stop talking like a goddamn know-it-all who’s got everything figured out!” He marched towards her as he yelled, hands clenching. He was going to spit these words right in her uptight face.
“You don’t know shit about this, or about what you’re doing either! All you do is hold that thing and talk so smug, but I’ve kicked your ass one time today and I could fucking well do it again! I’m a murderer now, Saachi; you think I couldn’t kill you too? Huh!?”
Both fists were tight, and he was trembling. He was a murderer: Lyndi was dead by his hand. It had been over so fast, so quick, but it was what it was. He’d killed a girl today.
And it was all Saachi’s fault.
He turned back again, stepping off a few paces as she continued rambling about them being out in the open or whatever. Nag nag nag nag nag nag NAG NAG NAG NAG NAG NAG -
“Will you shut the fuck up already?!”
He’d turned back to face her, already going red, as he shot her an even less pleased look than the first.
“Just shut up with your fucking psychoanalysis of everything! Stop talking like a goddamn know-it-all who’s got everything figured out!” He marched towards her as he yelled, hands clenching. He was going to spit these words right in her uptight face.
“You don’t know shit about this, or about what you’re doing either! All you do is hold that thing and talk so smug, but I’ve kicked your ass one time today and I could fucking well do it again! I’m a murderer now, Saachi; you think I couldn’t kill you too? Huh!?”
Both fists were tight, and he was trembling. He was a murderer: Lyndi was dead by his hand. It had been over so fast, so quick, but it was what it was. He’d killed a girl today.
And it was all Saachi’s fault.
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jimmydalad
- Posts: 266
- Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2018 6:38 pm
Saachi had underestimated the amount of anger Jay had within him.
Jay blew up at her, turning red like a tomato and got right up to her face. Her first instinct was to step backwards, make some space between the two of them before Jay did something physical to her. Her muscles began to get charged with energy, priming her responses to fight if the need arose and she readied herself to wield the cleaver should she need to.
Jay's words, while slightly incoherent with the whole "psychoanalysis" thing, still made her just want to bite back. Her body screamed to run or fight and she could hear the rapid beating of her heart drumming in her ears. Could she run? No, Jay would easily outrun her. Did she want to?
No.
She didn't want to run. That'd give Jay satisfaction and leverage. From what he said, it was clear that he thought that just because he managed to kill Lyndi that suddenly he was better than her. That she couldn't do anything. That he could just kill her any chance he wanted to. Saachi knew that wasn't the case so long as she had the cleaver. He could try to beat her up, but he didn't have his net anymore. She knew that she'd come out the victor so long as she had her weapon.
Using that knowledge as the conviction for her actions, she responded with a steely glare, only flinching as spit flew into her face. Her body still shook and her muscles tensed tighter, but she gritted her teeth tightly to force her body to comply. It wasn't pleasant having an angry redhead shouting directly at your face, but she had already determined that she was going to be the better person. Someone had to, or else everything would fall apart. Even without the net, Jay could still be useful. Two was always better than one. It'd be pathetic on her part if she let one argument completely ruin everything that she had worked for today.
She kept her stance firm, reassuring herself with her own logic that things would turn out for the better. Saachi needed to prove a point. She was still in charge and she was going to lead the pair of them to success, even if that meant she had to drag Jay along with her kicking and screaming. Keeping her eyes squared on Jay, she began to take deep breaths. She recognised the situation and knew that she had to approach it calmly and rationally. With each breath, her muscles began to loosen. Her heart also started to slow. Still, she never let Jay out of her sight. He was shaking and it was clear that rest was needed, even if their location was less than ideal.
"Jay." She began, looking down and tightening the grip on her cleaver before looking back up at him with a confident look. "Let's rest here for the night."
Giving any more of a reaction would probably make things worse. Talking hadn't been working up until that point either. Saachi had concluded that they needed a break. It had been like the pair of them hit the ground running since the beginning and only now was the exhaustion catching up to them. While she wouldn't call the situation resolved, she believed that getting some sleep and resting would help smooth over tensions.
She continued to take deep breaths as she began to step away from Jay, still not losing her sights on him as she moved back towards her duffel bag. The cleaver at this point was practically grafted onto her hand. It kept her safe. Jay was a wildcard. Some would've just killed him right there and then, but Saachi thought that was a waste. Today had proved how useful it was to not work alone. Throwing away that advantage out of a single argument was such a waste. Saachi knew it was risky, but she knew that risks needed to be taken if she wanted to win.
She was still planning on sleeping with one eye open tonight, however.
Jay blew up at her, turning red like a tomato and got right up to her face. Her first instinct was to step backwards, make some space between the two of them before Jay did something physical to her. Her muscles began to get charged with energy, priming her responses to fight if the need arose and she readied herself to wield the cleaver should she need to.
Jay's words, while slightly incoherent with the whole "psychoanalysis" thing, still made her just want to bite back. Her body screamed to run or fight and she could hear the rapid beating of her heart drumming in her ears. Could she run? No, Jay would easily outrun her. Did she want to?
No.
She didn't want to run. That'd give Jay satisfaction and leverage. From what he said, it was clear that he thought that just because he managed to kill Lyndi that suddenly he was better than her. That she couldn't do anything. That he could just kill her any chance he wanted to. Saachi knew that wasn't the case so long as she had the cleaver. He could try to beat her up, but he didn't have his net anymore. She knew that she'd come out the victor so long as she had her weapon.
Using that knowledge as the conviction for her actions, she responded with a steely glare, only flinching as spit flew into her face. Her body still shook and her muscles tensed tighter, but she gritted her teeth tightly to force her body to comply. It wasn't pleasant having an angry redhead shouting directly at your face, but she had already determined that she was going to be the better person. Someone had to, or else everything would fall apart. Even without the net, Jay could still be useful. Two was always better than one. It'd be pathetic on her part if she let one argument completely ruin everything that she had worked for today.
She kept her stance firm, reassuring herself with her own logic that things would turn out for the better. Saachi needed to prove a point. She was still in charge and she was going to lead the pair of them to success, even if that meant she had to drag Jay along with her kicking and screaming. Keeping her eyes squared on Jay, she began to take deep breaths. She recognised the situation and knew that she had to approach it calmly and rationally. With each breath, her muscles began to loosen. Her heart also started to slow. Still, she never let Jay out of her sight. He was shaking and it was clear that rest was needed, even if their location was less than ideal.
"Jay." She began, looking down and tightening the grip on her cleaver before looking back up at him with a confident look. "Let's rest here for the night."
Giving any more of a reaction would probably make things worse. Talking hadn't been working up until that point either. Saachi had concluded that they needed a break. It had been like the pair of them hit the ground running since the beginning and only now was the exhaustion catching up to them. While she wouldn't call the situation resolved, she believed that getting some sleep and resting would help smooth over tensions.
She continued to take deep breaths as she began to step away from Jay, still not losing her sights on him as she moved back towards her duffel bag. The cleaver at this point was practically grafted onto her hand. It kept her safe. Jay was a wildcard. Some would've just killed him right there and then, but Saachi thought that was a waste. Today had proved how useful it was to not work alone. Throwing away that advantage out of a single argument was such a waste. Saachi knew it was risky, but she knew that risks needed to be taken if she wanted to win.
She was still planning on sleeping with one eye open tonight, however.
God. Fucking. Damn it.
Nothing. Nada. No apologies, no whimpers of panic, just that smug as fuck face of hers, still smiling up at him, and still talking down at him. She was so goddamn on top of everything, wasn’t she?
He wanted to deck her. He wanted to just take his fist, knock her lights out and let her try to talk her way out of that. If she’d done anything other than back away, he most certainly would have.
But she did back away, and he was left standing there shaking with fury. His face was still crimson, still ready to keep roaring, but he didn’t prolong it.
He really hated it when he wound up doing one sided yelling.
”Oh look, Jay’s yelling again. God, Jay never shuts up does he? Jay, no-one cares, shut your mouth.”
Didn’t matter how right he was, everyone always blamed him just because he was yelling the loudest.
And you know what? He was tired. Fuck Saachi at this point, he wanted to just sit the fuck down already.
So he did. About ten meters away from Saachi, he took a seat and, slowly, he fell asleep. All the while, his head was a storm of emotion and of something that, despite how prominent it might’ve been, he’d never outright call guilt.
Nothing. Nada. No apologies, no whimpers of panic, just that smug as fuck face of hers, still smiling up at him, and still talking down at him. She was so goddamn on top of everything, wasn’t she?
He wanted to deck her. He wanted to just take his fist, knock her lights out and let her try to talk her way out of that. If she’d done anything other than back away, he most certainly would have.
But she did back away, and he was left standing there shaking with fury. His face was still crimson, still ready to keep roaring, but he didn’t prolong it.
He really hated it when he wound up doing one sided yelling.
”Oh look, Jay’s yelling again. God, Jay never shuts up does he? Jay, no-one cares, shut your mouth.”
Didn’t matter how right he was, everyone always blamed him just because he was yelling the loudest.
And you know what? He was tired. Fuck Saachi at this point, he wanted to just sit the fuck down already.
So he did. About ten meters away from Saachi, he took a seat and, slowly, he fell asleep. All the while, his head was a storm of emotion and of something that, despite how prominent it might’ve been, he’d never outright call guilt.
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jimmydalad
- Posts: 266
- Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2018 6:38 pm
Saachi almost couldn't believe that the situation didn't escalate, but she was content to take anything that went her way. She had taken a risk, especially when dealing with someone whose temper could flare at the drop of a hat and in the end, she was able to prove her point and come out the victor. That had to count for something.
She never let Jay leave her sight, even after he sat down and fallen asleep. It was only when Saachi could 100% confirm with supreme confidence that Jay had managed to fall asleep that Saachi made her preparations to sleep.
As she lay on her duffel bag, looking up at the stars, she took a moment to reflect on the day. Admittedly, her day was fucked up. She'd been attacked, made an uneasy alliance with the said attacker, tried to kill Kyran, tried to kill Felicia, watch Jay kill Lyndi and get her blood all over her and then had said attacker who was her ally scream at her about messing up with killing Felicia.
Putting things that way, Saachi paused. Her eyes flittered down to the cleaver, that she had on her personage. This was really the life that she chose to have on the island? She doubted anyone could say that such a life was healthy, morally just or sane in any sense of those terms. That lead to the next question, was there any other way she could've played this game? For that answer, Saachi really had to stew. She looked up at the sky and listened to the gentle breeze and the dancing flowers as she pondered.
Sure, she could've avoided the warehouse, but who knows who she would've encountered had she done so. She possibly would've encountered Jay as an enemy down the line, which was a thought that sent a chill through her, especially when considering Jay's behaviour as an ally. She probably would've encountered someone else who tried to kill her and they may have succeeded. Though she had no evidence, she very much doubted that no one else thought to play the game to survive.
Was there worth in just surviving? Not playing the game, but just getting through day by day. Maybe if she found the right people, they'd just stick together and focus on staying alive. That would mean that she'd have to rely on others to get a kill so they all didn't blow up. That thought didn't sit well with her. Why should she just sit around, wait and hope that she'd be able to make it to the next day when she could do something to make sure she did? Even if, by some miracle, they made it to the last few days, they would still have to kill one another.
After all, only one person survived the previous version. The participants in that game were probably kids, like her, who in the past were probably doing the same things they were doing. She could only speculate, as her parents forbade her from learning more about the show than what was shown on the news, but she had a feeling at least one kid laid in the evening like this and looked up at the same sky. Did they think the same things she did? Did they too question their approach to the game? Saachi sighed to herself softly, feeling the leftover tension from her conflict with Jay subside.
They probably did. At least, she liked to think they did. It would make sense if they did. There were probably kids who killed, kids who survived and kids who just whimpered into obscurity. She didn't know much about the winner. Apparently, he killed a few kids. Though she didn't know, Saachi wondered if he was like her. Maybe he laid down, looked up at the sky and recognised how messed up this entire island was. Maybe he had done things that were not healthy, morally just or sane but did them because that was what was needed to win.
It was those thoughts that helped answer the questions she had asked herself in the first place. Yes, this was the life she had chosen for herself and no, there was no other way she would've played the game.
As the last of her qualms eased out of her muscles, she slowly let sleep take her.
((Saachi Nidal and Jay Harland continued in Two is Better Than One))
She never let Jay leave her sight, even after he sat down and fallen asleep. It was only when Saachi could 100% confirm with supreme confidence that Jay had managed to fall asleep that Saachi made her preparations to sleep.
As she lay on her duffel bag, looking up at the stars, she took a moment to reflect on the day. Admittedly, her day was fucked up. She'd been attacked, made an uneasy alliance with the said attacker, tried to kill Kyran, tried to kill Felicia, watch Jay kill Lyndi and get her blood all over her and then had said attacker who was her ally scream at her about messing up with killing Felicia.
Putting things that way, Saachi paused. Her eyes flittered down to the cleaver, that she had on her personage. This was really the life that she chose to have on the island? She doubted anyone could say that such a life was healthy, morally just or sane in any sense of those terms. That lead to the next question, was there any other way she could've played this game? For that answer, Saachi really had to stew. She looked up at the sky and listened to the gentle breeze and the dancing flowers as she pondered.
Sure, she could've avoided the warehouse, but who knows who she would've encountered had she done so. She possibly would've encountered Jay as an enemy down the line, which was a thought that sent a chill through her, especially when considering Jay's behaviour as an ally. She probably would've encountered someone else who tried to kill her and they may have succeeded. Though she had no evidence, she very much doubted that no one else thought to play the game to survive.
Was there worth in just surviving? Not playing the game, but just getting through day by day. Maybe if she found the right people, they'd just stick together and focus on staying alive. That would mean that she'd have to rely on others to get a kill so they all didn't blow up. That thought didn't sit well with her. Why should she just sit around, wait and hope that she'd be able to make it to the next day when she could do something to make sure she did? Even if, by some miracle, they made it to the last few days, they would still have to kill one another.
After all, only one person survived the previous version. The participants in that game were probably kids, like her, who in the past were probably doing the same things they were doing. She could only speculate, as her parents forbade her from learning more about the show than what was shown on the news, but she had a feeling at least one kid laid in the evening like this and looked up at the same sky. Did they think the same things she did? Did they too question their approach to the game? Saachi sighed to herself softly, feeling the leftover tension from her conflict with Jay subside.
They probably did. At least, she liked to think they did. It would make sense if they did. There were probably kids who killed, kids who survived and kids who just whimpered into obscurity. She didn't know much about the winner. Apparently, he killed a few kids. Though she didn't know, Saachi wondered if he was like her. Maybe he laid down, looked up at the sky and recognised how messed up this entire island was. Maybe he had done things that were not healthy, morally just or sane but did them because that was what was needed to win.
It was those thoughts that helped answer the questions she had asked herself in the first place. Yes, this was the life she had chosen for herself and no, there was no other way she would've played the game.
As the last of her qualms eased out of her muscles, she slowly let sleep take her.
((Saachi Nidal and Jay Harland continued in Two is Better Than One))