((Christopher Schwartz continued from Pool 2278.))
Chris found himself at the ravine. He looked down into the crevice, scanning his eyes up and down the deep valley. He wasn't sure what he was looking for. He probably wasn't even looking for anything. Regardless, he tore his eyes away after a while.
He stepped back a bit, moving towards a rock and sitting down on it.
It hadn't hit him until he did, but... yeah, he was alone now. Mayb he could find another group of people to ally with. He'd been laying low for the most part. He hadn't gotten his hands dirty. Those who were approaching the game the same way he was had no reason to distrust him. He wanted to find someone else. Preferably someone not hostile. Being alone meant being with his thoughts. And his thoughts were a mess right now.
"Ah, goddammit," he cried. In response, his stomach grumbled. Oh yeah, how long had it been since he last ate? He dug through his bag. He had no doubt that he still had a few ration bars left. He kind of wished they could have at least had the courtesy of giving them proper food. Food that actually tasted like food.
He sighed, pulling out a ration bar and a bottle of water. Was it one of the full ones, or one of the ones he'd opened and drank from already?
He took a bite of the bar, grimacing as its taste and texture hit his tongue.
Goddammit.
That's So Ravine
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CondorTalon
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((Soren Rosendahl continued from Or Te!))
Soren’s zombie-like shuffle came to an abrupt stop as the edge of the ravine entered his vision.
How long had he been walking? It felt like weeks since he had left behind Tessa’s shattered body, since he ran away from yet someone else who he had failed to save. Intellectually, he knew it must have been much shorter than that, but it hardly seemed to matter at this point.
He had failed everyone. He abandoned Paris, the friend who had stuck up for him so many times in the past. He scared Yumi away, likely into the waiting arms of one of the many killers roaming the island. He couldn’t save Tessa, even though she had done nothing but assist him. At this point, it seemed like there was nowhere to go but down.
Sighing, Soren took a look around. A scan of the area revealed another person sitting against a rock. A moment of hesitation gripped him as he stared, watching longingly as the boy ate. Having had his bag stolen, food wasn’t exactly easy to come by. Tessa probably would have given him a few out of pity, had he asked, but imposing on her for more than the water that he had taken seemed just too much for him at the time.
Now, such considerations seemed far from his mind. His knees almost shaking, he stumbled over to Christopher, attempting to seem as non-threatening as he could as he extended a blood-stained arm outward.
“I-I’m sorry to bother you, but…” Soren paused for a moment, forcing a weak smile on his pale face. “My bag was stolen, and I haven’t had anything to eat for a couple days. Would it be possible for you to spare me a bar?”
Soren’s zombie-like shuffle came to an abrupt stop as the edge of the ravine entered his vision.
How long had he been walking? It felt like weeks since he had left behind Tessa’s shattered body, since he ran away from yet someone else who he had failed to save. Intellectually, he knew it must have been much shorter than that, but it hardly seemed to matter at this point.
He had failed everyone. He abandoned Paris, the friend who had stuck up for him so many times in the past. He scared Yumi away, likely into the waiting arms of one of the many killers roaming the island. He couldn’t save Tessa, even though she had done nothing but assist him. At this point, it seemed like there was nowhere to go but down.
Sighing, Soren took a look around. A scan of the area revealed another person sitting against a rock. A moment of hesitation gripped him as he stared, watching longingly as the boy ate. Having had his bag stolen, food wasn’t exactly easy to come by. Tessa probably would have given him a few out of pity, had he asked, but imposing on her for more than the water that he had taken seemed just too much for him at the time.
Now, such considerations seemed far from his mind. His knees almost shaking, he stumbled over to Christopher, attempting to seem as non-threatening as he could as he extended a blood-stained arm outward.
“I-I’m sorry to bother you, but…” Soren paused for a moment, forcing a weak smile on his pale face. “My bag was stolen, and I haven’t had anything to eat for a couple days. Would it be possible for you to spare me a bar?”
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CondorTalon
- Posts: 459
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He supposed he couldn't really complain. At least relatively. Sure, this whole situation was terrible, but relatively... he hadn't been hurt, physically, and he still had a few supplies.
Christopher was reminded of that when someone emerged from the trees. It was a walking corpse, Christopher realized, as the other boy approached him. He looked unarmed, but Chris couldn't be too careful. He couldn't afford to, now.
The boy told him that his supplies had been stolen and asked if he could give him some food.
"Uh..." Chris said, a bit of the bar still in his mouth. He looked the other boy up and down. He didn't seem like he was lying, and he hadn't tried anything funny, so...
"Sure," Chris finally said, reaching into his bag and grabbing one of his spare ration bars. He hoped this wouldn't bite him in the ass later.
He wordlessly held out the bar to the other boy.
Christopher was reminded of that when someone emerged from the trees. It was a walking corpse, Christopher realized, as the other boy approached him. He looked unarmed, but Chris couldn't be too careful. He couldn't afford to, now.
The boy told him that his supplies had been stolen and asked if he could give him some food.
"Uh..." Chris said, a bit of the bar still in his mouth. He looked the other boy up and down. He didn't seem like he was lying, and he hadn't tried anything funny, so...
"Sure," Chris finally said, reaching into his bag and grabbing one of his spare ration bars. He hoped this wouldn't bite him in the ass later.
He wordlessly held out the bar to the other boy.
Soren paused for a moment, staring at the rectangular object as his hands gingerly closed around it, as if he was almost unable to believe that it was real. He pulled it back, cradling it in his fingers before tearing open the packaging.
It didn't smell too good, but with the state Soren was in, he barely noticed. Without hesitation, he took a bite, chewing it quickly before taking another. Within seconds, the entire bar was stuffed into his mouth, pushing its way towards his dry throat.
That speed turned out to be a big mistake. The pieces going down were too big, and moving too fast. It wasn't long before his gag reflex was triggered, leaving him retching on the ground in front of him, the few pieces that were still on his tongue dropping into the dirt. He remained in the position for a while, his head spinning as he tried desperately to prevent himself from vomiting out anything else.
After a few moments of this, he finally managed to come to, pulling himself into a sitting position. The worst of the feeling had subsided, but he was still left feeling more than a little nauseous.
Soren sighed. Why couldn't he do anything right? Was this how far he had sunk, that even eating was too difficult for him? And to do it in front of a classmate who had just been generous enough him to give him a gift... Soren couldn't think of anything more humiliating.
He wished that he could just get up and leave, but it seemed that his legs weren't cooperating at the moment. Faced with no other option, he looked down at his hands and spoke quietly, his words aimed in Christopher's direction.
"Sorry you had to see that..."
It didn't smell too good, but with the state Soren was in, he barely noticed. Without hesitation, he took a bite, chewing it quickly before taking another. Within seconds, the entire bar was stuffed into his mouth, pushing its way towards his dry throat.
That speed turned out to be a big mistake. The pieces going down were too big, and moving too fast. It wasn't long before his gag reflex was triggered, leaving him retching on the ground in front of him, the few pieces that were still on his tongue dropping into the dirt. He remained in the position for a while, his head spinning as he tried desperately to prevent himself from vomiting out anything else.
After a few moments of this, he finally managed to come to, pulling himself into a sitting position. The worst of the feeling had subsided, but he was still left feeling more than a little nauseous.
Soren sighed. Why couldn't he do anything right? Was this how far he had sunk, that even eating was too difficult for him? And to do it in front of a classmate who had just been generous enough him to give him a gift... Soren couldn't think of anything more humiliating.
He wished that he could just get up and leave, but it seemed that his legs weren't cooperating at the moment. Faced with no other option, he looked down at his hands and spoke quietly, his words aimed in Christopher's direction.
"Sorry you had to see that..."
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CondorTalon
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Chris couldn't help but feel sorry for the other guy. On the other hand, what a waste of food. As he watched Soren retch and gag and upchuck the contents of the ration bar onto the ground, he couldn't help but wonder what he'd been through.
Chris didn't doubt that it was worse than what he'd been through, but curiosity suddenly gripped him.
"Are you alright?" Chris asked, "It looks like you've been through some shit."
Chris didn't doubt that it was worse than what he'd been through, but curiosity suddenly gripped him.
"Are you alright?" Chris asked, "It looks like you've been through some shit."
Soren froze at the sound of the question, the memories of the previous night vividly flooding back into his mind. For a moment, it was almost as if he was there again, back with the smell of powder in the air and the warmth of Tessa's blood on his hands. His face contorted briefly as he fought to regain control of himself, forcing his head up to look away from his shaking hands.
Deep breaths. Remain calm. Don't worry, and put everything in the Lord's hands.
That was what his parents used to say all the time back home. It didn't really help a lot back then, and wasn't much better now. However, it was good enough to allow himself to force things down for the time being, just so long as he tried to force out those little niggling doubts about whether or not God actually did have any good intentions for him anymore.
Soren sighed as leaned back and looked up at the sky, giving Chris the weakest answer he could muster.
"No, I'm not okay."
He paused for a moment.
"Are you?"
Deep breaths. Remain calm. Don't worry, and put everything in the Lord's hands.
That was what his parents used to say all the time back home. It didn't really help a lot back then, and wasn't much better now. However, it was good enough to allow himself to force things down for the time being, just so long as he tried to force out those little niggling doubts about whether or not God actually did have any good intentions for him anymore.
Soren sighed as leaned back and looked up at the sky, giving Chris the weakest answer he could muster.
"No, I'm not okay."
He paused for a moment.
"Are you?"
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CondorTalon
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In hindsight, it was kind of a stupid question. Nothing was alright here, and it was very obvious the boy had been through a lot of stuff. Chris scratched the back of his head as Soren bounced his question right back at him.
How had he been doing? Chris was doing... better than he could be, all things considered. That fact made him feel a bit guilty, though. He didn't know how to answer the other boy's question.
"I'm... well, I've been better," he finally said, "I tried to stick with other people, you know... strength in numbrs kinda thing. That didn't last long."
Chris sighed, and leaned back, looking up at the sky.
"I have no idea what to do now, really."
How had he been doing? Chris was doing... better than he could be, all things considered. That fact made him feel a bit guilty, though. He didn't know how to answer the other boy's question.
"I'm... well, I've been better," he finally said, "I tried to stick with other people, you know... strength in numbrs kinda thing. That didn't last long."
Chris sighed, and leaned back, looking up at the sky.
"I have no idea what to do now, really."
Well, that made two of them who didn't know what to do. If hehad to guess, Soren would venture to say that nobody in this place knew what to do. Every one of them was just standing and watching as the island slipped slowly into the abyss. The whole situation was getting more and more hopeless with every passing second.
Soren sighed as he clenched his fist, staring at it for a second before letting the muscles in his arm go slack. If only Paris was still here. He was sure that Paris would have some sort of plan to get them out of here, or at the very least prevent all of the screwups that Soren had made over the past couple of days. Of course, that would have required Soren to not have abandoned him to the wolves right after waking up, and everyone knew how that had ended up. His voice wavered slightly as he responded to the boy sitting next to him, desperately trying to take his mind off of the pile regrets staring him in the face.
"Looks like you're in the same boat as me, then."
He waited for a few seconds, hesitating to spit out the next sentence. It would sound crazy, he knew, but the question had been burning at his mind for ages, and if he didn't say it now, who knows how long it would eat at him before he got another chance to ask it.
"Do you think we're all being punished for something?"
Chris wasn't going to have the answer, of course, but Soren waited for his reply all the same.
Soren sighed as he clenched his fist, staring at it for a second before letting the muscles in his arm go slack. If only Paris was still here. He was sure that Paris would have some sort of plan to get them out of here, or at the very least prevent all of the screwups that Soren had made over the past couple of days. Of course, that would have required Soren to not have abandoned him to the wolves right after waking up, and everyone knew how that had ended up. His voice wavered slightly as he responded to the boy sitting next to him, desperately trying to take his mind off of the pile regrets staring him in the face.
"Looks like you're in the same boat as me, then."
He waited for a few seconds, hesitating to spit out the next sentence. It would sound crazy, he knew, but the question had been burning at his mind for ages, and if he didn't say it now, who knows how long it would eat at him before he got another chance to ask it.
"Do you think we're all being punished for something?"
Chris wasn't going to have the answer, of course, but Soren waited for his reply all the same.
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CondorTalon
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"I guess so," Chris said, in response to Soren's first comment. The next few seconds, there was a silence as nothing happened. Then, the boy spoke again.
"Punished?" Chris repeated, before shaking his head, "Why, do you think you've done something worth being punished for? Do you think anyone here has?"
Chris shook his head.
"Nah. A punishment implies some kind of injustice is being repayed. You think that's what's happening?"
"Punished?" Chris repeated, before shaking his head, "Why, do you think you've done something worth being punished for? Do you think anyone here has?"
Chris shook his head.
"Nah. A punishment implies some kind of injustice is being repayed. You think that's what's happening?"
"Well..."
Soren sighed. Articulating this feeling was going to be harder than he thought. He couldn't explain why, but... he just knew it was true.
"I mean, things happen for a reason, right? Why else would we be here?"
His eyes stared forward blankly Chris' direction, though not directly focusing on him. A shudder went through Soren's body. This whole scene felt so unreal, as if he was merely watching it from an outside perspective, rather than directly participating in it.
It probably would have been a good idea to continue to support the point he was arguing, but somehow, it didn't really seem worth it. Nothing Chris could say would really make a difference here.
Soren sighed. Articulating this feeling was going to be harder than he thought. He couldn't explain why, but... he just knew it was true.
"I mean, things happen for a reason, right? Why else would we be here?"
His eyes stared forward blankly Chris' direction, though not directly focusing on him. A shudder went through Soren's body. This whole scene felt so unreal, as if he was merely watching it from an outside perspective, rather than directly participating in it.
It probably would have been a good idea to continue to support the point he was arguing, but somehow, it didn't really seem worth it. Nothing Chris could say would really make a difference here.
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CondorTalon
- Posts: 459
- Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2018 1:22 am
Chris decided then that he wasn't a fan of Soren. Something about this line of questioning was rubbing him the wrong way. It wasn't like the question were malicious in nature, but... he didn't know.
He stood up. He decided that now was a good time to leave.
"Yeah," he said, "things do happen for a reason. For example, the reason we're here is some sick fucks thought it would be fun to kidnap a bunch of teens to force them to kill each other."
He turned his back to the other boy.
"Why? I dunno. Maybe to send a message. Maybe to get their rocks off. Or hey, porque no los dos?" he said. "But the point is... that's the reason. There's really nothing else to it."
Chris walked away.
"Later."
((Christopher Schwartz continued in Shoulda Just Stayed In Bed, To Be Honest.))
He stood up. He decided that now was a good time to leave.
"Yeah," he said, "things do happen for a reason. For example, the reason we're here is some sick fucks thought it would be fun to kidnap a bunch of teens to force them to kill each other."
He turned his back to the other boy.
"Why? I dunno. Maybe to send a message. Maybe to get their rocks off. Or hey, porque no los dos?" he said. "But the point is... that's the reason. There's really nothing else to it."
Chris walked away.
"Later."
((Christopher Schwartz continued in Shoulda Just Stayed In Bed, To Be Honest.))
Well, that was predictable. Soren leaned against the rock behind him as he watched the other boy walk away into the distance, getting smaller and smaller with every passing moment. He felt a cold sinking feeling in his stomach as yet another person that he had alienated disappeared into the distance.
It was somewhat strange to think about, but he didn't feel nearly so bad about it this time. Back home, scaring someone away like that would have been enough to almost bring on a full-on panic attack, yet all he could really say that he felt now was, well, a sort of numbness. Perhaps he had gotten used to it by now?
In any case, the thought of following after Chris was simply out of the question. His limbs felt like they were made of lead, and he could barely keep his eyes open. Honestly, it wasn't much of a surprise, considering that he hadn't had any sleep at all since the night before last. This place wasn't really a good place to sleep, but perhaps it would be a good idea to rest his eyes for just a moment...
When Soren opened his eyes again, he was surrounded by darkness. He had no idea how long he had been asleep, but, judging by the newfound strength in his arms and legs, it was just enough. Thank God that nobody had come and attacked him during that time. He muttered out a quick prayer of thanks, before brushing himself off and heading off in a random direction, with no real destination in mind.
((Soren Rosendahl continued in Flotsam and Jetsam))
It was somewhat strange to think about, but he didn't feel nearly so bad about it this time. Back home, scaring someone away like that would have been enough to almost bring on a full-on panic attack, yet all he could really say that he felt now was, well, a sort of numbness. Perhaps he had gotten used to it by now?
In any case, the thought of following after Chris was simply out of the question. His limbs felt like they were made of lead, and he could barely keep his eyes open. Honestly, it wasn't much of a surprise, considering that he hadn't had any sleep at all since the night before last. This place wasn't really a good place to sleep, but perhaps it would be a good idea to rest his eyes for just a moment...
When Soren opened his eyes again, he was surrounded by darkness. He had no idea how long he had been asleep, but, judging by the newfound strength in his arms and legs, it was just enough. Thank God that nobody had come and attacked him during that time. He muttered out a quick prayer of thanks, before brushing himself off and heading off in a random direction, with no real destination in mind.
((Soren Rosendahl continued in Flotsam and Jetsam))