((Yumi Nunes continued from Falling Back To The Earth))
Yumi sat at the shore, looking at the reflection of the moon in the lake. It was nice to see something beautiful for a change.
The rest of the day after her encounter in the fields had been spent sneaking around, trying to stick to places where she didn't think that anyone would search for her. She managed to avoid any more conflict with that approach, but she did run into another sort of trouble when her arm got caught by a branch. Her right arm had a few shallow scratches that had already been disinfected a couple of hours prior, and her shirt sleeve on that side had a small hole from a bit of the branch poking through before she could get free.
When she tired of staring at the water, she turned her attention to the bag that she had been dutifully clinging to since her arrival on the island. Despite keeping it so close and occasionally reaching inside for a snack, water, or first aid, she had yet to search through it for her weapon, nor come across it by chance during one of the other times she pulled something out of the bag. Her curiosity over what she had was building, and considering what she had already seen, it was hard to resist the temptation.
She placed her bag on the ground and unzipped it. From there, she put one hand inside and started sifting through her belongings. She pushed her water bottles out of the way, and moved the first-aid kit to the side as she moved her hand around. When she reached the opposite side of the bag, her fingers brushed against a metal object. She felt around to get a grip on it, and recognizing an unfamiliar shape she pulled it out.
The light of the moon illuminated the object in her hands, revealing it to be a handgun. She squeaked and dropped it back in the bag, pulling her hand closer to her body.
Denton didn't have a great reputation as a city, and neither did that part that Yumi grew up in, so she had spent a lot of her childhood being warned about guns by her parents and grandparents. If she saw a gun, she was supposed to go somewhere safe and tell an adult. That's what they had told her. But now there was a gun in her bag, a gun that she was expected to use. They wanted her to be the person that she had been told to avoid.
Yumi placed her hand on her chest and started breathing quickly and loudly. She could feel her heart starting to beat faster.
I don't want this.
That Sound is Your Soul Stirring
Late Night, Day 2
((Soren Rosendahl continued from The Sickness Unto Death))
It was a new day, and with that came new opportunities, a fresh chance to right Soren’s earlier mistake, and go back to find his friend. All he needed to do was head back in the direction he came, back to the tar pits. It was a long shot, but Paris still might have been there. That would have been the right thing to do.
It was also not the course of action that he took. Instead, what he did end up doing was wandering around aimlessly with his new companion, moving farther and farther away from the source of his original failure. Aside from some idle chatting as they travelled, the two of them had done absolutely nothing of consequence. A heavy weight hung in Soren’s chest as night fell upon a day that had been, by all measure, completely wasted.
All these regrets pressed heavily on his mind as the pair approached the lake. The light of the moon reflecting off its surface made for a surprisingly peaceful image, given the overall chaos on the island surrounding it. Getting closer, the stillness was only interrupted by the sound of heavy breathing coming from the crouched figure of a girl sitting at the lake’s edge.
Despite the poor lighting and the fact that he was looking at her from behind, Soren recognized Yumi almost immediately. He had spent far more time watching her from behind than he’d like to admit, and the familiar feeling of anxiety that accompanied her presence had already begun to set in. He paused for a moment, staring as tried to work up the courage to approach her, just as he had done after so many Writing Club meetings.
Soren swallowed, hard. His instincts were telling him to wait, to let Tessa go and talk to her instead, but… he knew he should be the one to do it. The girl was in obvious distress, and it probably would be better if she got help from somebody that she knew, even if they weren’t terribly close. After a deep breath, Soren finally took a few steps forward and called out to her in a low voice.
“Yumi? Are...are you alright?”
It was a new day, and with that came new opportunities, a fresh chance to right Soren’s earlier mistake, and go back to find his friend. All he needed to do was head back in the direction he came, back to the tar pits. It was a long shot, but Paris still might have been there. That would have been the right thing to do.
It was also not the course of action that he took. Instead, what he did end up doing was wandering around aimlessly with his new companion, moving farther and farther away from the source of his original failure. Aside from some idle chatting as they travelled, the two of them had done absolutely nothing of consequence. A heavy weight hung in Soren’s chest as night fell upon a day that had been, by all measure, completely wasted.
All these regrets pressed heavily on his mind as the pair approached the lake. The light of the moon reflecting off its surface made for a surprisingly peaceful image, given the overall chaos on the island surrounding it. Getting closer, the stillness was only interrupted by the sound of heavy breathing coming from the crouched figure of a girl sitting at the lake’s edge.
Despite the poor lighting and the fact that he was looking at her from behind, Soren recognized Yumi almost immediately. He had spent far more time watching her from behind than he’d like to admit, and the familiar feeling of anxiety that accompanied her presence had already begun to set in. He paused for a moment, staring as tried to work up the courage to approach her, just as he had done after so many Writing Club meetings.
Soren swallowed, hard. His instincts were telling him to wait, to let Tessa go and talk to her instead, but… he knew he should be the one to do it. The girl was in obvious distress, and it probably would be better if she got help from somebody that she knew, even if they weren’t terribly close. After a deep breath, Soren finally took a few steps forward and called out to her in a low voice.
“Yumi? Are...are you alright?”
Surprised by the voice behind her, Yumi lunged forward and hastily zipped her bag, cutting off access to her gun. She couldn't reach it easily, but neither could whoever was behind her. And even if trouble did arise, she was closer to the bag and didn't plan on moving away from it. Remaining crouched next to her supplies, she turned around to see who was approaching.
She recognized Soren, even though it took a moment for him to really register thanks to the dim lighting. "S-Soren..." She mumbled, still leaning close to her bag. He hadn't killed anyone as far as she knew, since he hadn't been on the announcements that morning. But then again, almost a full day had passed, and a lot could have happened since then. Heck, she already knew from Clio that just because someone hadn't killed yet didn't mean that they couldn't be dangerous. She remained cautiously defensive as he came closer.
"Are you okay?"
She recognized Soren, even though it took a moment for him to really register thanks to the dim lighting. "S-Soren..." She mumbled, still leaning close to her bag. He hadn't killed anyone as far as she knew, since he hadn't been on the announcements that morning. But then again, almost a full day had passed, and a lot could have happened since then. Heck, she already knew from Clio that just because someone hadn't killed yet didn't mean that they couldn't be dangerous. She remained cautiously defensive as he came closer.
"Are you okay?"
Soren swallowed as he heard her say his name.
“I'm… er… Things could be worse, I guess.”
He took a few steps more forward. Her lack of response to his initial question was more than a little strange, but then again, that seemed to be a pattern with people he met on this island. After a moment of silence, he spoke again, trying desperately to avoid stuttering or any other awkwardness in his next sentence.
“Are you hurt? You don't sound too well.”
A cool breeze blew through the area as Soren looked Yumi over, trying to scan for signs of injury. Unfortunately, the night's darkness prevented him from seeing too much detail. He silently prayed that his growing worry was baseless, though no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't banish the rising tide of anxiety from his mind.
“I'm… er… Things could be worse, I guess.”
He took a few steps more forward. Her lack of response to his initial question was more than a little strange, but then again, that seemed to be a pattern with people he met on this island. After a moment of silence, he spoke again, trying desperately to avoid stuttering or any other awkwardness in his next sentence.
“Are you hurt? You don't sound too well.”
A cool breeze blew through the area as Soren looked Yumi over, trying to scan for signs of injury. Unfortunately, the night's darkness prevented him from seeing too much detail. He silently prayed that his growing worry was baseless, though no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't banish the rising tide of anxiety from his mind.
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Rattlesnake
- Posts: 190
- Joined: Wed Aug 08, 2018 10:23 pm
((Tessa Blackridge continued from The Sickness Unto Death))
Her shoulder was really starting to get sore.
She hefted the rifle again, swapped it across her body for the nth time, watched and waited as Soren handled it. She'd almost done something, to her infinite credit. Opened her mouth, teetered on the edge of decisiveness, felt her breath go out with Soren's footsteps. They were well acquainted, it seemed, so that was the proper move anyway. With the way things were looking up, maybe when the time came, she could almost shoot her gun too.
The air stirred like a baby put to bed without its dinner. Night was on again, and that horrible chill had crept back out again before its wake had ever really cleared. Nothing like the acute shock of ice, and all the worse for it. The cold of exposure that slowly rotted away at you, made you forget what it was like not just to feel warmth on your skin when the sun peeked out between the trees, but to be warm.
She shivered a little and stepped forward as they spun conversation from a few clipped words. Hello, how are you, has anyone tried to kill you, did anyone get close, are you bleeding, do you have a gun. A/S/L for the new age. She reached the conversational distance of that guy orbiting every circle trying to tell a joke way too loudly. The distance she considered respectable for someone holding a rifle like a caber, not that there was any tangible peak in lethality she'd gain with another couple steps.
Things seemed to be going alright. At least, she didn't have any commentary for how fine Yumi may or may not want to be, or the repercussions of either situation. For the moment, she reached out with just a tight-lipped smile and a shallow nod of acknowledgement.
Her shoulder was really starting to get sore.
She hefted the rifle again, swapped it across her body for the nth time, watched and waited as Soren handled it. She'd almost done something, to her infinite credit. Opened her mouth, teetered on the edge of decisiveness, felt her breath go out with Soren's footsteps. They were well acquainted, it seemed, so that was the proper move anyway. With the way things were looking up, maybe when the time came, she could almost shoot her gun too.
The air stirred like a baby put to bed without its dinner. Night was on again, and that horrible chill had crept back out again before its wake had ever really cleared. Nothing like the acute shock of ice, and all the worse for it. The cold of exposure that slowly rotted away at you, made you forget what it was like not just to feel warmth on your skin when the sun peeked out between the trees, but to be warm.
She shivered a little and stepped forward as they spun conversation from a few clipped words. Hello, how are you, has anyone tried to kill you, did anyone get close, are you bleeding, do you have a gun. A/S/L for the new age. She reached the conversational distance of that guy orbiting every circle trying to tell a joke way too loudly. The distance she considered respectable for someone holding a rifle like a caber, not that there was any tangible peak in lethality she'd gain with another couple steps.
Things seemed to be going alright. At least, she didn't have any commentary for how fine Yumi may or may not want to be, or the repercussions of either situation. For the moment, she reached out with just a tight-lipped smile and a shallow nod of acknowledgement.
"I'm okay."
Yumi shrank closer to her bag when Soren stepped forward. She figured that a quick answer would satisfy him enough. She felt bad for feeling suspicious of him, since she knew him fairly well and he never really came off as a bad guy to her before. But now, she couldn't help but feel a little wary. She was alone, and there was no telling what he may be hiding.
The emergence of Tessa from the shadows behind Soren did absolutely nothing to help matters. Of course, most of this had to do with that fact that she was openly carrying a rifle, probably the scariest weapon that Yumi had seen so far. Like Soren, there was nothing about Tessa personally that made her intimidating. However, that gun of hers did quite a lot of speaking on its own, and it didn't have anything encouraging to say.
The tension was starting to rise for Yumi. She wanted to avoid trouble, and that was definitely going to be easier through diplomacy than anything else. With nothing to offer but information, she gave the duo a little information about her plight on the island.
"I went to the chapel. I was th-there when Lyndi died."
Yumi shrank closer to her bag when Soren stepped forward. She figured that a quick answer would satisfy him enough. She felt bad for feeling suspicious of him, since she knew him fairly well and he never really came off as a bad guy to her before. But now, she couldn't help but feel a little wary. She was alone, and there was no telling what he may be hiding.
The emergence of Tessa from the shadows behind Soren did absolutely nothing to help matters. Of course, most of this had to do with that fact that she was openly carrying a rifle, probably the scariest weapon that Yumi had seen so far. Like Soren, there was nothing about Tessa personally that made her intimidating. However, that gun of hers did quite a lot of speaking on its own, and it didn't have anything encouraging to say.
The tension was starting to rise for Yumi. She wanted to avoid trouble, and that was definitely going to be easier through diplomacy than anything else. With nothing to offer but information, she gave the duo a little information about her plight on the island.
"I went to the chapel. I was th-there when Lyndi died."
Soren felt his face go pale at the mention of Lyndi’s death. Of course he had heard about it on the announcements, but at the time it had seemed so distant, almost unreal. Though he could place some of the lost students’ names to their faces, he wasn't particularly close to any of them. Compared to the very close and personal assault that he had been entangled in on the first day, the names mentioned were little more than a horrifying reminder of the hopeless situation that he had found himself in.
He was at a loss for words. What could he say to someone who had just watched a classmate die before their eyes? The proverbs and platitudes that people usually offered up in times like these were woefully inadequate, yet, they were all Soren had to go by.
Soren’s body froze as he looked over Yumi’s hunched frame. He wanted to get closer, comfort her somehow, but…
His stomach churned. Was it appropriate to do here? Regardless of his feelings, now was definitely not the time to make those apparent. He had to proceed carefully here.
After a few moments, he moved hesitantly towards the girl, kneeling down before her as he hoped the darkness would conceal his burning ears. He raised a hand to put on her shoulder, holding it in the air for a moment before awkwardly putting it back down as he changed his mind.
“I'm sorry… Do you want to talk about it?”
Soren cringed inwardly as soon as the sentence left his mouth. It was far from the best response, but he had no idea what else to say.
He was at a loss for words. What could he say to someone who had just watched a classmate die before their eyes? The proverbs and platitudes that people usually offered up in times like these were woefully inadequate, yet, they were all Soren had to go by.
Soren’s body froze as he looked over Yumi’s hunched frame. He wanted to get closer, comfort her somehow, but…
His stomach churned. Was it appropriate to do here? Regardless of his feelings, now was definitely not the time to make those apparent. He had to proceed carefully here.
After a few moments, he moved hesitantly towards the girl, kneeling down before her as he hoped the darkness would conceal his burning ears. He raised a hand to put on her shoulder, holding it in the air for a moment before awkwardly putting it back down as he changed his mind.
“I'm sorry… Do you want to talk about it?”
Soren cringed inwardly as soon as the sentence left his mouth. It was far from the best response, but he had no idea what else to say.
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Rattlesnake
- Posts: 190
- Joined: Wed Aug 08, 2018 10:23 pm
Tessa stood and waited and churned a little spiral beneath the heel of her shoe until Yumi's pronouncement drove the wind from her and set her gazing back with a sudden harvest of tears ripe and almost ready to drop of their own accord.
The bluntness of it, of 'I watched my friend die.' Perhaps it wasn't bold and bare in the scheme of things on the island, where a factual rundown was positively demure compared to the daily gleeful taunting over loudspeaker, and where there didn't seem to be enough prospective breaths in circulation to waste one beating around the bush on anything. But it was certainly a stark departure from the old world, a reminder that you were no longer in it. Those kids last time, in polite company they were "victims of the attack," or they'd "passed away," or simply been simple "lost." And in fact, they'd beaten and shot and stabbed each other to their screaming, flailing deaths, and worse. How long until she could rattle off something so plainly, or until someone could add her entry to their own dead-eyed recollection?
She shrugged tight against the cold and shivered, resettled the rifle's weight over herself and took a step forward.
"Maybe we should settle in first?" She looked between them for a moment. "It is a bit open out here for that, if, you know..." and trailed off.
The bluntness of it, of 'I watched my friend die.' Perhaps it wasn't bold and bare in the scheme of things on the island, where a factual rundown was positively demure compared to the daily gleeful taunting over loudspeaker, and where there didn't seem to be enough prospective breaths in circulation to waste one beating around the bush on anything. But it was certainly a stark departure from the old world, a reminder that you were no longer in it. Those kids last time, in polite company they were "victims of the attack," or they'd "passed away," or simply been simple "lost." And in fact, they'd beaten and shot and stabbed each other to their screaming, flailing deaths, and worse. How long until she could rattle off something so plainly, or until someone could add her entry to their own dead-eyed recollection?
She shrugged tight against the cold and shivered, resettled the rifle's weight over herself and took a step forward.
"Maybe we should settle in first?" She looked between them for a moment. "It is a bit open out here for that, if, you know..." and trailed off.
Yumi stared at Soren's extended hand, which seemed to hang suspended in time for a moment, reaching toward her before he decided to put it down, much to her relief. She looked back at his face, listening to his request to talk about Lyndi's killing. Honestly, sharing what she knew seemed like a good idea. She had seen two dangerous people so far, one of whom might not even be on the announcements yet, so they didn't know to look out for her. If she could make them aware, then maybe they would be able to get tohe word out to other people too.
Tessa's interjection gave her some pause, though. She sounded like she wanted to settle down for the night, but she sort of trailed off in a weird way that made Yumi unsure about her intentions. She probably shouldn't have felt this way. After all, it was just Tessa. Tessa wasn't a scary person. But then again, she didn't know what kind of a person Tessa with a Gun was yet, or if there was a difference at all. She considered questioning her, but the two sets of eyes on her dissuaded her from that idea. Rather, she continued with her original plan of talking about the murder.
"There were two people. Jay and s-someone else. A girl. They tried to kill F-Felicia, but Lyndi s-saved us."
Her eyes started to water a bit. It's hadn't been anywhere near long enough for the memory to stop stirring up her emotions.
Tessa's interjection gave her some pause, though. She sounded like she wanted to settle down for the night, but she sort of trailed off in a weird way that made Yumi unsure about her intentions. She probably shouldn't have felt this way. After all, it was just Tessa. Tessa wasn't a scary person. But then again, she didn't know what kind of a person Tessa with a Gun was yet, or if there was a difference at all. She considered questioning her, but the two sets of eyes on her dissuaded her from that idea. Rather, she continued with her original plan of talking about the murder.
"There were two people. Jay and s-someone else. A girl. They tried to kill F-Felicia, but Lyndi s-saved us."
Her eyes started to water a bit. It's hadn't been anywhere near long enough for the memory to stop stirring up her emotions.
This was way out of his depth. Soren kept his mouth shut, waiting as his eyes scanned over the distraught girl in front of him. He didn't know Jay or Lyndi very well, outside of vague recollections of Paris mentioning their names when recounting the events of one of the many parties that he had attended. Even so, the thought of him trying to kill Yumi… Soren sighed. At least Lyndi was there, thankfully.
…
Wait… Thankfully? Lyndi was dead. How was that a good thing? Was he really selfish enough to be happy that Lyndi had died while helping the girl that he liked?
Soren shook his head. He really didn't want to think about this right now. The best option at the moment would probably be to take Tessa’s advice. At the very least, putting some distance between them and the site of the tragedy might help them get their minds off of it. At least, that's what seemed to work in books.
Taking a deep breath, he looked into Yumi’s face, his eyes awkwardly staring into it as he backed his companion up.
“Tessa's right. We should probably find some shelter. I'm sure the three of us can find a good place to hole up while we figure out what to do next.”
…
Wait… Thankfully? Lyndi was dead. How was that a good thing? Was he really selfish enough to be happy that Lyndi had died while helping the girl that he liked?
Soren shook his head. He really didn't want to think about this right now. The best option at the moment would probably be to take Tessa’s advice. At the very least, putting some distance between them and the site of the tragedy might help them get their minds off of it. At least, that's what seemed to work in books.
Taking a deep breath, he looked into Yumi’s face, his eyes awkwardly staring into it as he backed his companion up.
“Tessa's right. We should probably find some shelter. I'm sure the three of us can find a good place to hole up while we figure out what to do next.”
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Rattlesnake
- Posts: 190
- Joined: Wed Aug 08, 2018 10:23 pm
For some reason, Yumi's pronouncement seemed to trip the guilt sensors in her head. She couldn't help but feel an edge of sheepishness for... what? Traveling around with one other person. They were two people, yeah. But not those two people. She could never be one of those people, for sure, unless maybe she let the barrel of the gun swing down, squeezed the trigger with, what, a couple pounds of force? And then hundreds of years of fine-tuned ballistics would do the rest for her. She probably didn't even have to hit anywhere particular.
Mmm, there it was. Red lines in her mind because she'd had the audacity to be handed a #2 pencil. People did terrible things, she knew that. And she'd never been the type of person to stroll along and mark anything she touched as her territory and her right. Perhaps that vacuum of empathy had a way of drawing one in?
Speaking of which, wait a minute. Two people. So two people she knew had talked to each other and someone said, hey, maybe murder just because someone said so is a great idea. The poor kid from last time did it and came out alright, didn't he? Well no, but he did come out. And somehow, whoever else had agreed to it.
She unshouldered the gun and leaned on it like she had so often already, grinding the butt against the ground. You probably weren't supposed to do that, but there was nothing anywhere near the trigger. What would the adults say? Probably try not killing each other, for one, but they'd also most likely be backing Soren. Find somewhere decent to hole up together, take it a day at a time.
The thought of hunkering down and not freezing to death was feeling more and more inviting in the cool evening. She found herself nodding emphatically.
"Mhm. See if we can't find somewhere that's warm. Ish."
Mmm, there it was. Red lines in her mind because she'd had the audacity to be handed a #2 pencil. People did terrible things, she knew that. And she'd never been the type of person to stroll along and mark anything she touched as her territory and her right. Perhaps that vacuum of empathy had a way of drawing one in?
Speaking of which, wait a minute. Two people. So two people she knew had talked to each other and someone said, hey, maybe murder just because someone said so is a great idea. The poor kid from last time did it and came out alright, didn't he? Well no, but he did come out. And somehow, whoever else had agreed to it.
She unshouldered the gun and leaned on it like she had so often already, grinding the butt against the ground. You probably weren't supposed to do that, but there was nothing anywhere near the trigger. What would the adults say? Probably try not killing each other, for one, but they'd also most likely be backing Soren. Find somewhere decent to hole up together, take it a day at a time.
The thought of hunkering down and not freezing to death was feeling more and more inviting in the cool evening. She found herself nodding emphatically.
"Mhm. See if we can't find somewhere that's warm. Ish."
A cold, prickly feeling overcame Yumi's body, and not only because of the chilled night air. The way Soren gazed at her, the imposing presence of Tessa, and the direction this conversation seemed to be headed all coalesced into a very uncomfortable situation on her end. She pulled the strap of her bag over her shoulder and placed a hand on the bag itself for comfort.
"Th-three of us?"
She felt like she had weights in her legs. Soren and Tessa had shown up only a couple of minutes ago, and they were already proposing that she travel with them. It just seemed weird. Really, really weird, in more ways than one. On the trip, she probably would have planned on joining up with one or both of them to look around the aquarium. But now there was just something that seemed... off about this whole thing.
"No..." Her eyes averted themselves from Soren's as she tried to come up with an excuse. "I have to..."
No, there was nothing. As always, she was a bad liar.
"Th-three of us?"
She felt like she had weights in her legs. Soren and Tessa had shown up only a couple of minutes ago, and they were already proposing that she travel with them. It just seemed weird. Really, really weird, in more ways than one. On the trip, she probably would have planned on joining up with one or both of them to look around the aquarium. But now there was just something that seemed... off about this whole thing.
"No..." Her eyes averted themselves from Soren's as she tried to come up with an excuse. "I have to..."
No, there was nothing. As always, she was a bad liar.
Soren felt a drop in his stomach as the transparency of Yumi’s excuse began to sink in. She… wanted to get away. Yumi would rather be alone in the dark on an island of murderers than travel with him.
He hung his head, sighing quietly as he tried desperately to hide the look of shame on his face. It must have been something he said. In retrospect, it should have been obvious from the start. He shouldn't have gotten so close to her so soon. If he had been more charismatic, like Paris, maybe he could have pulled it off, but he wasn't.
The acrid sting of tears began to present itself in Soren's eyes as his self-loathing continued. He must have come off as super creepy. Of all the ways he could have handled the situation, he had to choose the one that would make him look like a total weirdo. The urge to smack himself in the face welled up before being quickly suppressed.
He took a quick glance at Tessa, hoping that the darkness would cover the definitely unbecoming expression on his face. He had managed to fight back the tears, for now, but he didn't trust himself to be able to say anything without making the situation any worse. Maybe Tessa would be able to smooth things over.
Maybe.
Probably not, though.
He hung his head, sighing quietly as he tried desperately to hide the look of shame on his face. It must have been something he said. In retrospect, it should have been obvious from the start. He shouldn't have gotten so close to her so soon. If he had been more charismatic, like Paris, maybe he could have pulled it off, but he wasn't.
The acrid sting of tears began to present itself in Soren's eyes as his self-loathing continued. He must have come off as super creepy. Of all the ways he could have handled the situation, he had to choose the one that would make him look like a total weirdo. The urge to smack himself in the face welled up before being quickly suppressed.
He took a quick glance at Tessa, hoping that the darkness would cover the definitely unbecoming expression on his face. He had managed to fight back the tears, for now, but he didn't trust himself to be able to say anything without making the situation any worse. Maybe Tessa would be able to smooth things over.
Maybe.
Probably not, though.
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Rattlesnake
- Posts: 190
- Joined: Wed Aug 08, 2018 10:23 pm
Oh boy.
That was not the response either of them had been hoping for. She could tell by the way Soren turned to her, as if to physically ward off the blow. Something of a dark look on his face. She understood, as much as it hurt. Both of them. To feel that sting of betrayal, reaching out your trust a little too far and getting it smacked. And for Yumi, well, she'd nearly done the same thing, hadn't she? Some people just didn't want to deal. Not the right moment. Not the right faces. And some... maybe they didn't want to be held accountable.
She sighed and hefted the gun back into her arms and reached out her hand, let it hover for a second as if it might burn up on reentry and let it clamp down on Soren's shoulder.
"Hey," she said softly, turning from Yumi to Soren. A bit louder, so there was no mistaking her words: "We'll leave her to her fortune, then." She nodded at Yumi. A little smile.
If you're absolutely sure.
That was not the response either of them had been hoping for. She could tell by the way Soren turned to her, as if to physically ward off the blow. Something of a dark look on his face. She understood, as much as it hurt. Both of them. To feel that sting of betrayal, reaching out your trust a little too far and getting it smacked. And for Yumi, well, she'd nearly done the same thing, hadn't she? Some people just didn't want to deal. Not the right moment. Not the right faces. And some... maybe they didn't want to be held accountable.
She sighed and hefted the gun back into her arms and reached out her hand, let it hover for a second as if it might burn up on reentry and let it clamp down on Soren's shoulder.
"Hey," she said softly, turning from Yumi to Soren. A bit louder, so there was no mistaking her words: "We'll leave her to her fortune, then." She nodded at Yumi. A little smile.
If you're absolutely sure.
No response. Yumi couldn't hear anything from Soren.
Wait, she could hear something. Not words, but if sounded like he was moving. She turned back quickly, worried that he may have been moving for a weapon of some sort.
What she saw instead was even more painful.
Soren was glancing back at Tessa, and she could make out a gleam from what appeared to be a tear in the corner of his eye, clinging to the eyelid in a desperate attempt to keep itself from rolling down his face. Yumi hadn't raised a hand against him, but she had hurt him all the same. Lyndi had died for her, and this was what she had done with thee life she had been granted. Hurt her own friends.
She was ashamed.
"I'm s-sorry..." She muttered, her voice shaking more than usual and taking an odd tone as she tried to keep herself from sobbing openly. Her mind was slowly succumbing to a whirlwind of emotions. She felt so bad for wanting to abandon Soren and Tessa, but she was still just so... she didn't want to say she was scared, but she was definitely unsettled. She didn't want to stay, but the idea of leaving was making her chest hurt.
It was at that moment that Yumi made a rash decision. She lunged forward and put her arms around Soren, pulling him into a tight hug. She knew that this was reckless. If Tessa had taken her actions as a threat, she could have used that rifle of hers to put an end to her right then and there. Yumi knew about that risk, but she made the move anyway. It was stupid and dangerous, but she couldn’t just abandon them without a word. And since she wasn’t good with words in a verbal sense, she hoped that a small gesture or two would let them know that she still cared about them.
The tears had overwhelmed her eyelids and escaped down her cheeks, touching down on her classmate’s shoulder. This wasn’t surprising. She always was bad at hiding her emotions.
She released Soren from her bony embrace and stood up. She waved to Tessa and tried to give her a small smile, but the very fresh salt trails on her face as well as her still-leaking eyes betrayed how her heart wasn’t in it. She had one last request for them. One that she knew probably couldn’t be fulfilled, but she couldn’t leave without letting them hear it. She made her statement just loud enough for the both of hem to hear.
“Please s-stay safe.”
After that, Yumi stood in place and looked at them for a few moments. She was having second thoughts now. She could still stay with them. The three of them could stick together. Maybe they could survive.
… Or maybe they wouldn’t. Maybe they would die, and Yumi would have to watch, unable to do a thing because she was too weak to help. Or maybe they would die without her, and she would be stuck wondering if she could have helped if only she had stayed behind. The thoughts burned themselves into her mind. What was she supposed to do?
Yumi made another rash decision and ran off into the night.
((Yumi Nunes continued in The Gun Goes Click))
Wait, she could hear something. Not words, but if sounded like he was moving. She turned back quickly, worried that he may have been moving for a weapon of some sort.
What she saw instead was even more painful.
Soren was glancing back at Tessa, and she could make out a gleam from what appeared to be a tear in the corner of his eye, clinging to the eyelid in a desperate attempt to keep itself from rolling down his face. Yumi hadn't raised a hand against him, but she had hurt him all the same. Lyndi had died for her, and this was what she had done with thee life she had been granted. Hurt her own friends.
She was ashamed.
"I'm s-sorry..." She muttered, her voice shaking more than usual and taking an odd tone as she tried to keep herself from sobbing openly. Her mind was slowly succumbing to a whirlwind of emotions. She felt so bad for wanting to abandon Soren and Tessa, but she was still just so... she didn't want to say she was scared, but she was definitely unsettled. She didn't want to stay, but the idea of leaving was making her chest hurt.
It was at that moment that Yumi made a rash decision. She lunged forward and put her arms around Soren, pulling him into a tight hug. She knew that this was reckless. If Tessa had taken her actions as a threat, she could have used that rifle of hers to put an end to her right then and there. Yumi knew about that risk, but she made the move anyway. It was stupid and dangerous, but she couldn’t just abandon them without a word. And since she wasn’t good with words in a verbal sense, she hoped that a small gesture or two would let them know that she still cared about them.
The tears had overwhelmed her eyelids and escaped down her cheeks, touching down on her classmate’s shoulder. This wasn’t surprising. She always was bad at hiding her emotions.
She released Soren from her bony embrace and stood up. She waved to Tessa and tried to give her a small smile, but the very fresh salt trails on her face as well as her still-leaking eyes betrayed how her heart wasn’t in it. She had one last request for them. One that she knew probably couldn’t be fulfilled, but she couldn’t leave without letting them hear it. She made her statement just loud enough for the both of hem to hear.
“Please s-stay safe.”
After that, Yumi stood in place and looked at them for a few moments. She was having second thoughts now. She could still stay with them. The three of them could stick together. Maybe they could survive.
… Or maybe they wouldn’t. Maybe they would die, and Yumi would have to watch, unable to do a thing because she was too weak to help. Or maybe they would die without her, and she would be stuck wondering if she could have helped if only she had stayed behind. The thoughts burned themselves into her mind. What was she supposed to do?
Yumi made another rash decision and ran off into the night.
((Yumi Nunes continued in The Gun Goes Click))