((Tucker Hopkins continued from Picking Up The Pieces))
He walked in silence, listening to the sound of his own footsteps and the natural ambiance of the nearly-deserted resort. Tucker hadn't run into anybody in quite a while, though he had purposely took the less-beaten path and avoided anywhere a person could be. This resulted in a roundabout, redundant pathway, but Tucker didn't mind. He didn't care.
Tucker didn't dwell much on the typical, paramount question every SOTF fan asks themselves at some point: how would you fare if you were on the show yourself? It wasn't that Tucker was scared to think about it; he was just too focused on the contestants onscreen to think about what he'd do in the same situation. He did ponder it at some point, way back when, but he must've given a shoddy, vapid answer he forgot soon after. Thinking about it now, he probably just thought he'd run around before something happened to him.
Admittedly, that's exactly what happened; he and Regina wandered around aimlessly, walking from one intense situation to the next until Tucker decided to up and leave, going off on his own. A small part of him regretted leaving the group, but he convinced himself that it wouldn't have lasted long anyway. Same doubts, same reassurances. He did wish them well, however, and he could sympathize with Bella if he tried. She was just defending herself, and Paisley would've killed her otherwise. Tucker wondered what would happen if it had gone the other way around: would Paisley go after him? Back then, he would still be sitting there, frozen, and maybe then she'd off him. Right now, Tucker couldn't care less.
Tucker entered the game living in the present, not thinking about what would happen if he survived afterwards. Now, with what had happened and what he'd seen, he wasn't sure that he'd be able to live a life after SOTF. Even if he somehow won and managed to get out alive, he wouldn't be able to let go of Bunny, Paisley and anything else he'd see between now and the hypothetical future. It would haunt him for the rest of his life, and he couldn't go back to school, go back to his family and friends he left behind, go back to life as he remembered it being. He wouldn't handle it well, if at all.
This occurred to him a short while ago, after leaving the cabanas behind and setting out all on his lonesome. It would be better to die here, he reasoned, rather than go on with his burdens. Better the chances of someone else, better suited and more deserving of victory. If Tucker had to pick anyone to survive this game, he'd pick Regina. It wasn't likely, given the situation she was in when he left, but she was a trooper and certainly better-suited to the game than him. Tucker might've just been biased towards his most trusted ally, but out of everyone else he hoped she'd win.
He let out an audible sigh, his breath released as wisps of steam in the chilly air. It was significantly brighter out than it was when he left the cabanas; the announcement should be coming up soon.
Lone Ranger
Open, right before Announcement
Tucker walked a little more. He was in some sort of park, its natural vibrancy drained by the winter chill. He hadn't stopped walking since the cabanas, several hours ago. He needed rest. Tucker may as well rest while waiting for the announcement.
He looked around before making his way towards a tree, dropping his bag in the snow as he sat himself against the tree's trunk. He pulled the bag towards him and unzipped it, digging through the cans for a moment before finding what he wanted. Tucker took out the Subway footlong, breaking it into halves and stuffing one of them back in the bag. He munched on the remaining half, enjoying the taste as he surveyed the barren landscape.
Tucker kept an ear out for either the sound of footsteps or a loudspeaker.
He looked around before making his way towards a tree, dropping his bag in the snow as he sat himself against the tree's trunk. He pulled the bag towards him and unzipped it, digging through the cans for a moment before finding what he wanted. Tucker took out the Subway footlong, breaking it into halves and stuffing one of them back in the bag. He munched on the remaining half, enjoying the taste as he surveyed the barren landscape.
Tucker kept an ear out for either the sound of footsteps or a loudspeaker.
One came but not the other. Looks like Tucker was alone in the park. He ate his sandwich quietly as he listened to Ritzy Daggers list off the dead.
The first three names were mysteries, but he did know Naomi from school; he didn't know much about her, but they were acquaintances. Shame she got caught up in this. He took a brief moment to mourn as he listened to stories of more kids he didn't know killing each other, barely paying attention until Pia's name jarred him. Hearing the name that followed, Tucker closed his eyes and sighed deeply, adding Pia to the list of people long gone, people he'd be joining sooner or later.
He didn't know which one was worse.
Tucker zoned out for the rest of the announcement, finishing his sandwich and trying his best to ignore Paisley's name when it came up. He wasn't exactly sure where he was, but he couldn't care less about danger zones at the present moment. It didn't look like he'd explode, so that was good.
He sat there for a moment, mulling over the few things he'd paid attention to. Jewel was probably close to being released if she hadn't hit the ten-kill mark already. One less killer to worry about, at least. Tucker pondered on the status of his remaining friends: Vahka was definitely a person to avoid, and so was Marcus. The old gang he was with is probably alive, too. He hoped that they'd be well, or at least do better than him.
The park was eerily silent. Tucker stood up and leaned against the tree, looking around the deserted area before groaning and looking up into the sky. Tucker was completely alone. He probably wouldn't be for long, though: they do try to herd the contestants together, after all. No fun in watching kids curl up in their little hidey holes and never dare to approach anyone else. There wasn't that many places left to be. He wondered who it'd be: would it be Jewel, hellbent on making him the kill that gets her home? Some kid he didn't know who only saw him as a target and enemy that needed destroying? Or worse, a person he knew from school, be it Vahka or Marcus or someone else whose motives are the same?
He looked down but didn't focus his gaze on anything in particular. Tucker shoved his hands in his pockets to at least stave off the cold and stared off into space. His hope for survival was minimal, but at least he could enjoy a little respite.
The first three names were mysteries, but he did know Naomi from school; he didn't know much about her, but they were acquaintances. Shame she got caught up in this. He took a brief moment to mourn as he listened to stories of more kids he didn't know killing each other, barely paying attention until Pia's name jarred him. Hearing the name that followed, Tucker closed his eyes and sighed deeply, adding Pia to the list of people long gone, people he'd be joining sooner or later.
He didn't know which one was worse.
Tucker zoned out for the rest of the announcement, finishing his sandwich and trying his best to ignore Paisley's name when it came up. He wasn't exactly sure where he was, but he couldn't care less about danger zones at the present moment. It didn't look like he'd explode, so that was good.
He sat there for a moment, mulling over the few things he'd paid attention to. Jewel was probably close to being released if she hadn't hit the ten-kill mark already. One less killer to worry about, at least. Tucker pondered on the status of his remaining friends: Vahka was definitely a person to avoid, and so was Marcus. The old gang he was with is probably alive, too. He hoped that they'd be well, or at least do better than him.
The park was eerily silent. Tucker stood up and leaned against the tree, looking around the deserted area before groaning and looking up into the sky. Tucker was completely alone. He probably wouldn't be for long, though: they do try to herd the contestants together, after all. No fun in watching kids curl up in their little hidey holes and never dare to approach anyone else. There wasn't that many places left to be. He wondered who it'd be: would it be Jewel, hellbent on making him the kill that gets her home? Some kid he didn't know who only saw him as a target and enemy that needed destroying? Or worse, a person he knew from school, be it Vahka or Marcus or someone else whose motives are the same?
He looked down but didn't focus his gaze on anything in particular. Tucker shoved his hands in his pockets to at least stave off the cold and stared off into space. His hope for survival was minimal, but at least he could enjoy a little respite.
There really wasn't much happening. Must be disappointing for the viewers, seeing some random kid just standing around while there was better action elsewhere.
If Tucker was watching, he'd change the channel. Unless he liked the kid on screen enough to follow his every move, but Tucker doubted he left much of an impression on the fanbase at all.
He stayed put nonetheless. He liked the quiet.
If Tucker was watching, he'd change the channel. Unless he liked the kid on screen enough to follow his every move, but Tucker doubted he left much of an impression on the fanbase at all.
He stayed put nonetheless. He liked the quiet.
Tucker was jarred awake some time later, jolting up in a cold sweat and taking short, rapid breaths. He must have dozed off after a while, huddled against the tree trunk with his pack sandwiched between his chest and knees. Groggy and somewhat disoriented, he looked around to find the area still deserted. He'd been a sitting duck for at least a day, and it was a miracle that nobody had come after him. But Tucker wouldn't have minded someone coming along and offing him: at least he would've been asleep.
It took him a moment to realize that the announcements were playing, and he was alone to listen to the death call again. The initial panic passed, and Tucker quieted down and listened as he was updated on the status of his competitors.
Vahka killed Marcus. Another friend gone. Tucker had little time to mourn before Jewel's release was announced, having reached the 10-kill cap. Good for her: one less person to worry about.
He was unprepared for what came next. Regina was dead, offed by Vahka before he ultimately was killed by Yagmur. Tucker was silent until the conclusion of the announcements, and a few seconds passed before he choked out a sob. A moment later he was bawling, his hands wet with tears from covering his face. Tucker hadn't had an emotional breakdown yet so far in the game, unmoved during anything that had happened to him. His eyes were dry during the Ice Palace standoff, Bunny's death and even Paisley's death at the cabanas. However, all that sadness and fear began to well up inside him until it couldn't be contained, overflowing in the forms of tears and strangled cries.
He was crying for Paisley, for Regina, for Bunny. For Pia and Marcus and Dee and even Vahka. He cried for every kid he knew at Whittree who died over the past three days, and hell, for the dead kids from the other school too. All the friends and allies he had held dear were all gone, all the kids who were more skilled or determined or flat-out just deserved to survive were dead. Tucker made it this far but didn't deserve it. He ran around like a chicken, tailing allies and being a minor participant in scuffles, did nothing about his sister's death, lost his own weapon and still made it this far.
Why wasn't he dead yet?
Tucker sat sniffling for a quick moment before shivering, looking up and noticing a light flurry overhead. It was snowing and getting cold fast. He wordlessly stood up and walked off, wiping the tears from his eyes. If he was going to die, he was going to go out quick. Or at least faster than freezing to death.
((Tucker Hopkins continued in Going Forward))
It took him a moment to realize that the announcements were playing, and he was alone to listen to the death call again. The initial panic passed, and Tucker quieted down and listened as he was updated on the status of his competitors.
Vahka killed Marcus. Another friend gone. Tucker had little time to mourn before Jewel's release was announced, having reached the 10-kill cap. Good for her: one less person to worry about.
He was unprepared for what came next. Regina was dead, offed by Vahka before he ultimately was killed by Yagmur. Tucker was silent until the conclusion of the announcements, and a few seconds passed before he choked out a sob. A moment later he was bawling, his hands wet with tears from covering his face. Tucker hadn't had an emotional breakdown yet so far in the game, unmoved during anything that had happened to him. His eyes were dry during the Ice Palace standoff, Bunny's death and even Paisley's death at the cabanas. However, all that sadness and fear began to well up inside him until it couldn't be contained, overflowing in the forms of tears and strangled cries.
He was crying for Paisley, for Regina, for Bunny. For Pia and Marcus and Dee and even Vahka. He cried for every kid he knew at Whittree who died over the past three days, and hell, for the dead kids from the other school too. All the friends and allies he had held dear were all gone, all the kids who were more skilled or determined or flat-out just deserved to survive were dead. Tucker made it this far but didn't deserve it. He ran around like a chicken, tailing allies and being a minor participant in scuffles, did nothing about his sister's death, lost his own weapon and still made it this far.
Why wasn't he dead yet?
Tucker sat sniffling for a quick moment before shivering, looking up and noticing a light flurry overhead. It was snowing and getting cold fast. He wordlessly stood up and walked off, wiping the tears from his eyes. If he was going to die, he was going to go out quick. Or at least faster than freezing to death.
((Tucker Hopkins continued in Going Forward))