Moonrise Kingdom

[Laurels]

((Paige Strand continued from The House of the Undying))

Paige continued her trek through the jungle. She kept a steady pace after clearing the danger zone. She knew that stopping could mean certain death. Sure, there were only about twenty kids left, but she needed to be on her guard. The announcement made it clear that more people were going to play, and more were going to die.

Jennifer, Adam, Anthony, Karl, April, Nick, Lyn, Charlene. Those are probably my biggest threats. Probably should kill them on sight.

Paige continued to brush aside branches when she was suddenly blinded. She squinted her eyes, and realized that she was blinded by the sun being reflected off the ocean. She was on a beach, clear sand all around her.

She stepped out onto the beach and made her way towards the water. It looked lovely, but it reminded Paige of how trapped she was. Beaches like this probably existed all around the island, informing her that she was indeed trapped. But then again, three days of running and avoiding bullets should have made that clear.

Paige dropped her bag on the ground and sat next to it. She took out a bottle of water and took a quick sip. The beach gave her a good vantage point. She could see anyone coming from the left, right, and jungle. Sure, she'd have to deal with the heat, but at least she could gun down anyone foolish enough to try and attack her.

Although, the water did look a bit inviting. Paige hadn't taken a swim since she fell in the lake. Something about the seawater looked really comforting to her.

Not too long. Stay alive.

Paige took her shoes and socks off, trying not to remove the bandage around her toe. She then stepped up to the water, keeping her Beretta in her hand. In an instant, a wave sent cold ocean water over her feet. She exhaled as chills were sent through her body.

She then took a few steps back and turned towards the jungle. She needed to be on alert. But, she could be alert while standing in the water for a few more seconds.

[Lord_Shadow]

((Jennifer Steinman continued from Cream Cheese and Salsa))

It was difficult to retrace her steps, no doubt. It would be more difficult to find Strand's tracks, or even be sure they were hers. Jennifer knew this. But she had to find her. Had to make her pay for defying her. Danya would surely let everyone else know there was a steep price to saying no to Jennifer Steinman after that.

But following tracks proved too difficult if they weren't her own. And in less than an hour, Jennifer gave up. She'd never find Paige, so she should just go back and kill whoever it was she left to go on this ridiculous quest. Maybe Tim was right, was she crazy?

Her eyes were weary and her body heavy. She hadn't slept since she woke up here. Hadn't rested either. She felt so tired. She smelled the sea close. The sound was soothing too. She missed hanging out at the beach and having fun. She missed being a teenage girl with a future other than killing other people.

A little stroll or nap on the beach couldn't hurt. She could be a girl again and go back to killing later. She sighed. "Jeez, you must be crazy Jen. But what I wouldn't give for this now." She shook her head, and made her way towarda the sea. The jungle brush was thick but she made her way through. The sandy beach greeted her.

God she needed this. She took off her coat, kept the hat and glasses though. She let the packs down on the ground, spare ammo and all. The heart on her pink shirt was still dark from where she had wiped Tim's blood off her hands. Shouldn't have let him down. Gravity would've done it for her.

She sighed, stretched, and dropped the skate too. Killers or not, who would attack a two time killer with a gun on a beach? She started her way down the beach just to make sure, gun in hand. The area she came into was on a bend, with a few trees obscuring her view of the rest of the shore. First things first, make it over there and make sure it's clear.

[Laurels]

Paige finally moved away from the water. It felt nice, but her feet were beginning to get a little cold. Plus, the bandage was coming off her toe, so she would have to dry her feet and put a new one on.

"Can't be distracted too long," she muttered to herself.

Paige began to make her way back to her pack. As she got closer, something moved out of the corner of her eye. She quickly held the Beretta up and pointed it at the movement. Her eyes widened.

Jennifer!

Of course she would run into that bitch again. She found some solace on the beach, and now this confirmed psychopath was here. Paige kept the gun trained on Jennifer and moved towards the jungle.

"Don't move, bitch!" she shouted.

She hoped that would make Jennifer stop moving. She could easily shoot Jennifer then and there, since she probably had the surprise advantage. But hey, why not try to be the one in control this time?

"Listen up. I want you to toss everything you have into the ocean. Do that, and you can walk away with your life intact. If I so much as suspect you plan to throw sand in my eyes, I will blow your brains out."

Paige felt the gun shake in her hands. Why was she so scared? She knew Jennifer wouldn't try to shoot her if Paige began to fire at her, as the incident yesterday proved. Still, Jennifer was dangerous, and she needed to be certain of that. That's when she noticed that Jennifer was wearing Timothy's glasses and hat.

"So, you killed Tim. Tell me, did he hesitate?"

[Lord_Shadow]

No sooner had she stepped out from the extended jungle than she came face to face with Paige Strand. A twisted smile formed on her lips. "Oh Paige, you came to see me too. Oh how much I missed you." As if Jen would comply with her demands. Did Paige think she was stupid? She told her not to move, to drop her stuff in the ocean. What an idiot.

She asked if Tim hesitated. Jen adjusted the glasses. "Uh huh, he sure did. But not before he gave me a good long kiss. It was nice, could have been better but still. I almost cried when I shot him. It was so beautiful. Real romantic Paige, like really."

She smiled. "Not gonna be the same with you." She raised the gun and pulled the trigger.

CLICK

CLICK

Her eyes widened. "OH SHIT!"

She turned around and took off, now was not a good time for weapon malfunction.

[Laurels]

Well, what a surprise. Jennifer was going to keep being a bitch. Paige groaned as Jennifer talked about how she killed Timothy. A kiss goodbye? Wow.

That's when Jennifer raised her gun and pulled the trigger. Paige panicked. She had the advantage on Jennifer, and she let herself get distracted. And now she would die.

Except that the dumb bitch didn't even reload her gun. Paige watched as Jennifer cursed and ran. Paige was dumbfounded. How could she forget something so crucial? Paige had made sure to keep her gun loaded and count the bullets she had.

That's when Paige realized: Jennifer wasn't some suave serial killer. She was a psychotic girl. Of course she would forget to reload her gun. That also meant that she was going to continue to pull this shit. Paige thought she needed to kill Jennifer because she was playing for her own benefit. Didn't she say she killed Liz Polanski cause she threw a trashcan lid at her? And she killed Timothy after he kissed her?

Jennifer is simply too dangerous for anyone left on the island. Killing her would help everyone out. Paige began to move after Jennifer, trying to handle running barefoot on the beach.

She turned and saw Jennifer running and pointed the Beretta at her.

"Now or never," she said to herself as she squeezed the trigger a few times.

[Lord_Shadow]

Bullets whizzed incredibly close by, and a few met their mark. One tore into her side, sending a surge of pain all over her torso, another went through her leg causing her to cry out and fall over. This was the end. Her breathing was nothing but frenzied wheezes. "Oh god oh god ohgod ohgod ohgodohgodohgod. No no no no nono NO!" She crawled along the sand towards her packs. They were too far, Paige would execute her before she even got close.

So she turned to the gun, she quickly raised herself over it so Paige couldn't see. She opened the chamber and shifted the bullets into new places. Then she locked it back in and gave the gun a smack on the ground. She prayed that would fix it. But turning around now was a death sentence. She needed an opportunity, so it was time to play one last card.

"Paige! Paige wait, please! Listen to me. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'll never bother you again I swear just don't kill me. Come on, we can work something out can't we? Please? I'm begging you now, please!"

[Laurels]

Paige watched as Jennifer fell over. She actually hit her. The crazy bitch was on the ground. She could actually do it. She could kill her. The game would be free of her. One less psychopath on the island.

Paige got closer, watching Jennifer squirm on the ground. Jennifer then turned over and began to plead for her life. It was so surreal. The girl who yesterday bragged about how enlightened she was and how she was above everything else in this game was now begging for her life. Looks like you see who people really are before they die after all.

Paige kneeled on the sand and put the barrel of the Beretta against Jennifer's head.

"Just shut up," Paige growled. "God, you spew a lot of crap."

"Do you really think after all of this I could just work something out with you? You, who killed without sadness and nearly killed me twice? You seriously hope that you and I could just have a fucking tea party and manage to walk away as friends?"

"Well guess what Jenny, it's never going to happen. Right now, you are the only person on this island I truly despise. Marty nearly shot me, and I don't even hate him for that. Tim was just your patsy, so I don't even hate that he let you live. Lyn Burbank killed my friend yesterday, but I could give a crap about her right now. I might get her later, but now's not the time."

"You're a plague, Jennifer. A virus that will kill us all. And here I am, a vaccine ready to eradicate you. But I got to play this smart. Wait here."

Paige stood up and kept the gun trained on Jennifer's face. She began to walk backwards, her focus set square on the injured girl on the ground. This allowed Paige to see the damage she did to Jennifer. Jennifer's leg was bleeding, as was the side of her torso. Jennifer will probably have to limp away if she tried to escape.

People are going to be after me. I need to make sure she's not a reason for them to kill me.

Paige soon found herself standing near her day pack. She was going to need it.

[Lord_Shadow]

The end came quicker than she had expected. Paige put the gun next to her head. To Jennifer's surprise, she didn't pull the trigger.

"Fool."

Paige went on with a little speech on how she hated Jen because she was a virus and Paige was the vaccine or something. To be honest it wasn't that Jennifer didn't care, but bullet wounds have a tendency to be attention grabbing.

Her pleading eyes turned to anger filled ones.

"Paige... you know what I learned from our last encounter?"

She brought out the gun and fired.

Bang! Bang! BANG!

"You can't react faster than a bullet."

[Laurels]

Paige quickly opened the day pack and unsheathed the machete. She swung the bag over her shoulder and held the machete in her other hand, trying to keep the Beretta trained on Jennifer.

"Okay, so instead of killing you, you will kill yourself. Stab yourself with-"

Paige... you know what I learned from our last encounter?

Huh?

There was a loud popping sound.

You can't react faster than a bullet.

Paige felt a sharp pain in her body. She stumbled back, realizing that she had been shot in the legs. She fell to the sand and began to groan.

"BITCH!" she screamed.

Paige was furious. She should have just blown Jennifer's brains out. Fuck it if everyone knows she's a killer, Jennifer needs to die.

Paige pulled the Beretta up to fire again.

That's when she felt a sharp pain in her chest.

NO!

[Lord_Shadow]

Jennifer gave a sigh of relief. She was still in immense pain, but it looks like Paige would be too. Judging from the fall, one of her shots must have hit her in the leg. "Leg for a leg bitch." Jennifer laughed and rolled onto her back. The sun stared back at her, warming her body. Even lying on the sand bleeding, she knew she would live.

She would make sure that Paige wouldn't.

"As I explained to Tim, there's a difference between conviction and pragmatism. One involves taking advantage of given situations, what you did. Another involves following through on one's actions to the end. What I'm about to do. I am the unfettered, there is nothing tying me down. My only goal is to win, and I will do whatever it takes to do so. That's why even if you hit me, you can't kill me Paige. I WIN. You lose."

She raised her torso slightly to get a better look at her opponent before the girl expired. It was almost sad, how close Paige came to killing Jen. But that happens when one doesn't have the conviction to carry through regardless of circumstance, Jen mused. "Goodbye Miss Strand. You will be... missed."

BANG.

With that, Jennifer lay back down in the sand, and started laughing her head off. Surely she'd have to tend to her wounds, but all she could do now was laugh at the reversal of fortune that just occurred.

[Laurels]

Paige thought she was only hit in the legs. Turns out that one bullet hit her near her hip. She found it tough to move, and was soon clutching her side. She had fucked up big, and now she was practically crippled.

Jennifer was talking again, discussing conviction and pragmatism. Paige couldn't believe that the psycho was completely correct. Paige declared that she would survive the game. She stood by and watched Craig and Maria get shot. She killed Aileen in the hopes of getting off the helipad. But she didn't finish Jennifer off. She let Tim attempt that, and it didn't work. She should have put a bullet in Jennifer's head, and now she was going to die.

Goodbye Miss Strand. You will be... missed.

Paige turned and saw the barrel of the gun pointing at her. Her eyes widened.

BANG

Paige felt the bullet enter her gut. It burned. She could feel herself getting weak. She couldn't believe she was actually dying.

Not yet. Need to try to kill her.

Paige then realized that Jennifer was lying on the ground. Paige probably couldn't shoot her and kill her now, and she was too weak to stab her with the machete. That's when she noticed something gold in the dirt. It fell out of Paige's bag when she dropped to the ground. It was that tube of lipstick that she found on the first day.

Paige picked the lipstick up and tossed it at Jennifer. The tube landed on Jennifer's chest.

"Make yourself look pretty," Paige weakly said. "You need to look great when you're sitting on the electric chair."

Paige then reached for the bag again and found Craig's sketchpad. Some specks of blood were on it. She weakly tossed it at Jennifer, watching it land near her.

"Carry it, just like Tim's hat.'

Paige then rolled onto her side. She wasn't going to spend her last moments looking at the bitch who killed her. The sea was a nicer view. Despite everything that just happened, it looked very nice.

GIRL #01 PAIGE STRAND: DECEASED

[Lord_Shadow]

Paige tossed her more trinkets to add to her collection. Something to remember her by she guessed. At some point Jennifer would have to go and get something from her first kill site. For now, she had to move on. Staying in the sand laughing like a maniac felt good but the simple facts were that she was bleeding and probably would get an infection. With difficulty, Jennifer dragged herself to her bag. She got all the supplies she needed and got to work. First, disinfect. Then, apply gauze and keep pressure to prevent excessive bleeding. Simple stuff, but the type of wound she sustained made everything hurt. She kept it in as best she could, but a few whimpers and small cries of pain escaped. At least she kept from screaming.

She fixed up her side first and then her leg, because she knew the leg would hurt the most. Jennifer was not relishing being unable to run from this point on. But if she shot first and asked questions later maybe it wouldn't matter. She rummaged through both her bag and Tim's. She moved the rations from Tim's bag and exchanged her partially used first aid kit for his unused one. No need to be weighed down by unnecessary supplies with her leg in the condition it was. Though, she reasoned, a backup map couldn't hurt. She then rose to her feet, or tried to at least. It took more than a few tries and falls but eventually she stabilized. Putting pressure on her bad leg was not advisable, but considering it was her dominant leg only moments before the shootout it couldn't be helped.

Baby steps it was. She took her bag and plopped it where she had been lying in the sand. She took the lipstick tube and threw it in, along with the revolver. It was time to retire Ol' Faithful. Before she did the same to the sketchpad, she deciding to posthumously thank Paige first. She walked over to the dead girl and gently knelt next to her. "Just want to say, thanks for keeping that fighting spirit to the end. Made it all the more fulfilling knowing that it didn't help you in the slightest." She reached over to Paige's bloody side with her fingers and pressed for blood. With the blood, she drew a little crown on a page of the sketchpad. She put the words 'High Queen' underneath. It wasn't a particularly good or recognizable drawing but then drawing was never her strong suit. "It's a wonderful present Paige. Oh, and I think I'll refrain from putting on lipstick till I win. Best to look great on a throne, don't you think?" She went back to throw the sketchpad in her bag, then went and took the Beretta and the machete. Clip was good, other than maybe 4 to 5 or so spent bullets.

Jennifer checked Paige's bag, no spare clip. Seems that with the good weapons they made ammo scarce. Whatever. She took what was left of Paige's rations and consumed them. She could taste the blood still on her fingers. It made her want to vomit, but she had to look good for the cameras. She stood up and retrieved her jacket and the ice skate. Putting the jacket back on and tossing the skate in, she closed her bag, and slung it over her shoulder. She tried to find the closest camera, but she couldn't see it. So she just hoped that they could see.

"Conviction. That's what I bring to the table. Everything, from aggression to begging, is a tool to be used for one single purpose. I want to win. And so I shall. That is my will. Make of that what you will. I have a game to win."

With that, Jennifer Steinman disappeared back into the jungle. She began following her trail back to the area she left off from to go on this side mission. God she was tired.

But sleep would have to wait. Only when all her classmates had their final rest, could she get her next rest.

((Jennifer Steinman returned to Cream Cheese and Salsa. SCENE 4 COMPLETE.))