And then all at once, everything went to shit.
Irene had been proud of Yumi for that excuse. Nice and considerate of Wendy's feelings. Heartwarming, right? See? Irene had had the right idea. She'd been debating giving her a conspiratorial wink and a thumbs-up or something when Felicia keeled over and started hurling and oh god oh fuck was it normal for stomach cramps to come out of nowhere this fast? Was it normal for them to keep dry-heaving for so long and gasp for breath like that and oh she's sobbing okay this definitely isn't normal so what do you do now Irene? What do you do what do you do what do you do
Calm down, Irene. You know what to do. For once in your life--actually, no, for the rest of her life--she knew what to do, because she will never not know what to do ever again. So do it. This was easy. Especially easy. Because she not only had her five w's--who, what, when, where, why--but also a single h--how.
She knelt behind Felicia. What was that move called? The Heimlich maneuver or something? Wasn't it used to dislodge food and help people stop choking? Good enough. Close enough.
Irene wrapped her arms around Felicia, and thrusted.
There were three things off the top of Irene's head: she was sick, she was having an allergic reaction, or she'd eaten something that wasn't good for her. Throwing it all up would help with the last one. It might not help with the first two, but oh well. It's not like Irene could do anything about those anyways.
So that was Felicia taken care of. Just one more step in this bit of triage. Triage. Damage control. Doing the best she could with what she had. Yes. That's who Irene was. That's what Irene was going to do.
"Sorry, Wendy," she said between grunts and gasps for breath. "Looks like her stomach didn't agree with your stew. But, like, it was really good! And it was real sweet of her to try to eat so much of it. Uh. Where was I going with this. But, like...you did good! And everyone else too! You're all doing good! Very good! Yes! Everything's going to be okay!"
"Right, Felicia?"
Carp Diem
Seas the Day: We are Day 6 now! (Now PM first) Content Warning: Graphic Grossness
Oh no.
As Yumi was sitting and taking a sip of water, trying her best to ignore the tin of soup at her side, Felicia abruptly pitched forward, eliciting a scream from the writer. She stared helplessly as a stream of vomit sprayed forth from Felicia's mouth, continuing for far longer than seemed healthy or safe. And when that was over, she continued to wheeze and sob, nothing else coming out but saliva and tears. Yumi's face was frozen in a look of horror by what her friend was suffering. Just a few seconds ago she had been sitting next to her like nothing was wrong, and now she was in the middle of the most violent illness that Yumi had ever seen in person. What was happening to her?
Felicia, what's happening?
Her mouth was locked tight, forced into silence by the agony before her eyes. Irene came up from behind and tried to help, performing the Heimlich maneuver on Felicia and trying to calm everyone down. Any slight hopes that she would be able to defuse the situation swiftly slipped away when midway through trying to offer aid, Irene stopped pumping and covered her mouth with one hand before doubling over and turning to the side with her own fit of retching. She was sick too? The situation reminded Yumi of some sort of epidemic, where everyone becomes sick for mysterious reasons. She felt a feeling of terror growing in her gut. She didn't know what was wrong with the others, and watching them grow sick so abruptly was a scary scene to behold.
With no one holding her up, Felicia started to fall forward again. Moving quickly, Yumi got in front of her and grabbed her shoulders, stabilizing her and bringing her upright again. She tried to look Felicia in the eyes, but it was difficult amidst the dry heavingand sobbing coming from her friend. Even so, she kept her eyes trained on the sick girls face and tried to talk to her, desperate for any sort of response.
"F-Felicia, what's wrong?" She pleaded, wide-eyed. "Can you breathe?" No reply, just more choking noises and coughing in her face. Yumi started to speak more frantically as her panic increased, her voice raising and becoming even shakier with every question. "Can you s-see me? Can you hear me? F-Felicia?"
She felt a sudden sourness strike her stomach, and the most immediate effect was to bring her emotions beyond their boiling point. Still holding her sickened friend upright, she desperately screamed to no one in particular as her eyes began to create a flow of worried tears down her cheeks.
"S-Somebody help! Please!"
As Yumi was sitting and taking a sip of water, trying her best to ignore the tin of soup at her side, Felicia abruptly pitched forward, eliciting a scream from the writer. She stared helplessly as a stream of vomit sprayed forth from Felicia's mouth, continuing for far longer than seemed healthy or safe. And when that was over, she continued to wheeze and sob, nothing else coming out but saliva and tears. Yumi's face was frozen in a look of horror by what her friend was suffering. Just a few seconds ago she had been sitting next to her like nothing was wrong, and now she was in the middle of the most violent illness that Yumi had ever seen in person. What was happening to her?
Felicia, what's happening?
Her mouth was locked tight, forced into silence by the agony before her eyes. Irene came up from behind and tried to help, performing the Heimlich maneuver on Felicia and trying to calm everyone down. Any slight hopes that she would be able to defuse the situation swiftly slipped away when midway through trying to offer aid, Irene stopped pumping and covered her mouth with one hand before doubling over and turning to the side with her own fit of retching. She was sick too? The situation reminded Yumi of some sort of epidemic, where everyone becomes sick for mysterious reasons. She felt a feeling of terror growing in her gut. She didn't know what was wrong with the others, and watching them grow sick so abruptly was a scary scene to behold.
With no one holding her up, Felicia started to fall forward again. Moving quickly, Yumi got in front of her and grabbed her shoulders, stabilizing her and bringing her upright again. She tried to look Felicia in the eyes, but it was difficult amidst the dry heavingand sobbing coming from her friend. Even so, she kept her eyes trained on the sick girls face and tried to talk to her, desperate for any sort of response.
"F-Felicia, what's wrong?" She pleaded, wide-eyed. "Can you breathe?" No reply, just more choking noises and coughing in her face. Yumi started to speak more frantically as her panic increased, her voice raising and becoming even shakier with every question. "Can you s-see me? Can you hear me? F-Felicia?"
She felt a sudden sourness strike her stomach, and the most immediate effect was to bring her emotions beyond their boiling point. Still holding her sickened friend upright, she desperately screamed to no one in particular as her eyes began to create a flow of worried tears down her cheeks.
"S-Somebody help! Please!"
Sophie took another sip of the soup as Felicia fell forward. She lowered the tin from her mouth and stared as the girl began to throw up. She could suddenly feel a bit of a sweat forming on her forehead. Felicia looked really sick, and now Sophie was starting to feel a bit ill too. She had been disgusted from the sight of vomit that she herself felt like throwing up, but this looked really bad. Irene and Yumi were trying to help her out as well, Yumi in particular starting to get really worried.
"Oh, uh," Sophie said, looking around and setting the soup tin down. "Let me check my kit."
She reached over for her bag, prepared to pull out her first aid kit. However, before she could, she suddenly felt something in her stomach also starting to come up.
"Oh god..."
Sophie clutched her stomach and tried to cover her mouth with her other hand. That wasn't enough, though. Sophie suddenly felt the vomit force its way past her lips and through her fingers. She moved her hand out of the way and continued to retch onto the ground. She stared at the vomit on the ground, feeling sweat drip down her forehead and her breathing starting to increase.
"What's happening?" she weakly asked.
Before she could do anything else, she felt another surge in her stomach and soon expelled more vomit onto the ground. Her eyes widened. There was a red color mixed in that didn't look right. Now her chest was starting to burn. Her lips started to quiver. Something was seriously wrong with her.
"Oh, uh," Sophie said, looking around and setting the soup tin down. "Let me check my kit."
She reached over for her bag, prepared to pull out her first aid kit. However, before she could, she suddenly felt something in her stomach also starting to come up.
"Oh god..."
Sophie clutched her stomach and tried to cover her mouth with her other hand. That wasn't enough, though. Sophie suddenly felt the vomit force its way past her lips and through her fingers. She moved her hand out of the way and continued to retch onto the ground. She stared at the vomit on the ground, feeling sweat drip down her forehead and her breathing starting to increase.
"What's happening?" she weakly asked.
Before she could do anything else, she felt another surge in her stomach and soon expelled more vomit onto the ground. Her eyes widened. There was a red color mixed in that didn't look right. Now her chest was starting to burn. Her lips started to quiver. Something was seriously wrong with her.
G014: Mayumi Tendou
Huh.
Oh no.
What was this.
Why was this happening.
It wasn't supposed to happen - this way.
Wendy's eyes widened, mouth agape as she quietly watched the wretched events unfold.
She moved forward, gazing at Irene and Sophie's prone selves, whispering Felicia's name at her side, but Yumi was already there, screaming. Wendy shook.
Much like when her teacher bit the bullet, Wendy could only pull at one of her pig-tailed braids, with nails digging into her forearm. She stared at all the downed girls completely unblinking. A drop of wetness rolling down her cheek.
Oh no.
What was this.
Why was this happening.
It wasn't supposed to happen - this way.
Wendy's eyes widened, mouth agape as she quietly watched the wretched events unfold.
She moved forward, gazing at Irene and Sophie's prone selves, whispering Felicia's name at her side, but Yumi was already there, screaming. Wendy shook.
Much like when her teacher bit the bullet, Wendy could only pull at one of her pig-tailed braids, with nails digging into her forearm. She stared at all the downed girls completely unblinking. A drop of wetness rolling down her cheek.
Something, someone, tried to tug her up in the panic. Felicia barely registered it, along with Irene’s voice. She heard her name, heard vague words of Irene talking about the soup. But any thoughts she had about them were suppressed by her choking, her gasping, the pain in her chest and neck, her reaching up in a vain attempt to fix it.
She still couldn’t breathe and her chest was getting worse and she still retched and retched and her mouth burned and ached and her skin felt cold and prickly and she needed and she absolutely needed just one gasp of air.
Felicia started to fall forwards again, only to be caught by something else. She struggled to focus, but she had an idea who. She wanted to say Yumi’s name, wanted to ask her, wanted to beg right this second to do something about all this coughing and heaving and gasping and pain. But she couldn’t. Her lips, slowly growing more pale and blue and numb, couldn’t.
The numbness kept getting worse and worse. Her chest continued to constrict, like a python grabbing her tightly, like a hand reaching inside her and grabbing her heart and lungs. She only heard more shouting, more screaming.
Her vision blurred and darkened. She needed, she needed to make it stop, make it stop hurting, making it stop her from heaving and wheezing, make it stop make it stop.
The constricting feeling got worse, and Felicia’s eyes rolled back into her head. She fell forwards again, this time leaning against Yumi. She couldn’t think, it wasn’t just the pain, she was getting so exhausted and cold and numb.
Eventually, Felicia stopped. She stopped heaving, or crying, or coughing. She stopped breathing, gasping, anything. Her eyes were forced open in surprise as she leaned against Yumi, still and limp.
Female Student #022 Felicia LaChapelle- ELIMINATED
She still couldn’t breathe and her chest was getting worse and she still retched and retched and her mouth burned and ached and her skin felt cold and prickly and she needed and she absolutely needed just one gasp of air.
Felicia started to fall forwards again, only to be caught by something else. She struggled to focus, but she had an idea who. She wanted to say Yumi’s name, wanted to ask her, wanted to beg right this second to do something about all this coughing and heaving and gasping and pain. But she couldn’t. Her lips, slowly growing more pale and blue and numb, couldn’t.
The numbness kept getting worse and worse. Her chest continued to constrict, like a python grabbing her tightly, like a hand reaching inside her and grabbing her heart and lungs. She only heard more shouting, more screaming.
Her vision blurred and darkened. She needed, she needed to make it stop, make it stop hurting, making it stop her from heaving and wheezing, make it stop make it stop.
The constricting feeling got worse, and Felicia’s eyes rolled back into her head. She fell forwards again, this time leaning against Yumi. She couldn’t think, it wasn’t just the pain, she was getting so exhausted and cold and numb.
Eventually, Felicia stopped. She stopped heaving, or crying, or coughing. She stopped breathing, gasping, anything. Her eyes were forced open in surprise as she leaned against Yumi, still and limp.
Female Student #022 Felicia LaChapelle- ELIMINATED
Whatever Theo said in response to James, his attention was grabbed elsewhere as he listened for their reactions to Sophie, seemingly accepting of her. Good. They wouldn’t have any trouble so far. At least till James could get his bag back.
It wasn’t long before they were then seated and given them food under the pretense that everything was alright and they were all on the same side. Kumbaya and all that bullcrap. James didn’t eat his, it didn’t look appetising in the slightest and he didn’t trust it. Theo had worked on it after all.
The others seemed to enjoy it though, even Sophie. Maybe he was too suspicious over nothing? They didn’t seem like a harmful bunch. Even if Theo’s a fuckhead, didn’t mean the rest were.
At least, it seemed initially. And then one of the girls fell over. And then Sophie did too. Vomit soon came after. He hoped that it’d be it, just a bad reaction to some shitty food, but then more vomit came out, and blood. Lots of it.
“No no no no no!” He shunted away what he was given and put his hand on her shoulder. He could hear sobbing from across, the two girls working on their friend. “Keep it together Sophie, please!” His voice barely above a whisper and he could barely see her. It felt like he was torn apart.
It wasn’t long before they were then seated and given them food under the pretense that everything was alright and they were all on the same side. Kumbaya and all that bullcrap. James didn’t eat his, it didn’t look appetising in the slightest and he didn’t trust it. Theo had worked on it after all.
The others seemed to enjoy it though, even Sophie. Maybe he was too suspicious over nothing? They didn’t seem like a harmful bunch. Even if Theo’s a fuckhead, didn’t mean the rest were.
At least, it seemed initially. And then one of the girls fell over. And then Sophie did too. Vomit soon came after. He hoped that it’d be it, just a bad reaction to some shitty food, but then more vomit came out, and blood. Lots of it.
“No no no no no!” He shunted away what he was given and put his hand on her shoulder. He could hear sobbing from across, the two girls working on their friend. “Keep it together Sophie, please!” His voice barely above a whisper and he could barely see her. It felt like he was torn apart.
(Adopted from Espional)
Sophie could hear James talking to her, telling her to keep it together. She wasn't sure that she could. She could feel her heart racing and it was starting to become harder to breathe. Before she knew it, she felt herself falling to the ground. She tried to move a bit, and ended up on her back, looking up at the sky.
She didn't know what was happening to her, but she knew why it was happening. She had made a promise to be good, to do good, but it wasn't enough. Someone there wasn't as willing to forgive her as Wendy was, and now she was dying for that. Sophie knew she wouldn't be able to truly make amends for her actions now that she as dying.
It wasn't fair. She didn't want to do bad things. She wanted to be a good person here. She tried her hardest, and all it did was make people hate her and want to hurt her and those around her. Now she, Felicia, and possibly others here had to die.
As Sophie lay on the ground, staring up, she could see James over her. He seemed to be saying something to her, but she couldn't tell. But it looked like he was crying for her. It was then Sophie felt all her worries drift away. One person here believed in her. One person here would mourn her. One person was enough.
"D...do..." she tried to say to James, feeling her body seizing up. "...go...od..."
She hoped he kept his promises. She really hoped he could make her look pretty once she was gone. She hoped he could be good, and she hoped that would take him home.
Sophie tried to move, but couldn't. She soon found her gaze affixed to the sky. It was a bit cloudy, but it was the kind of cool gray that came with morning mist. Sophie kept her gaze on the sky.
It's going to be a beautiful day...
She was sure it would be one.
Then, as Sophie knew would eventually happen, she let the earth take her.
She didn't know what was happening to her, but she knew why it was happening. She had made a promise to be good, to do good, but it wasn't enough. Someone there wasn't as willing to forgive her as Wendy was, and now she was dying for that. Sophie knew she wouldn't be able to truly make amends for her actions now that she as dying.
It wasn't fair. She didn't want to do bad things. She wanted to be a good person here. She tried her hardest, and all it did was make people hate her and want to hurt her and those around her. Now she, Felicia, and possibly others here had to die.
As Sophie lay on the ground, staring up, she could see James over her. He seemed to be saying something to her, but she couldn't tell. But it looked like he was crying for her. It was then Sophie felt all her worries drift away. One person here believed in her. One person here would mourn her. One person was enough.
"D...do..." she tried to say to James, feeling her body seizing up. "...go...od..."
She hoped he kept his promises. She really hoped he could make her look pretty once she was gone. She hoped he could be good, and she hoped that would take him home.
Sophie tried to move, but couldn't. She soon found her gaze affixed to the sky. It was a bit cloudy, but it was the kind of cool gray that came with morning mist. Sophie kept her gaze on the sky.
It's going to be a beautiful day...
She was sure it would be one.
Then, as Sophie knew would eventually happen, she let the earth take her.
G09: SOPHIE MCDOWELL
DECEASED
27 STUDENTS REMAIN
DECEASED
27 STUDENTS REMAIN
G014: Mayumi Tendou
Felicia fell forward into her, and the impact jarred her already cramping stomach. She turned her head to the side and let loose a stream of watery vomit, leaving her throat burning. She had fallen ill too, but she wasn't as excessively nauseous as Felicia had been. She feared that this would only be the beginning, but she had to stay alert for as long as she could. She needed to take care of Felicia.
It took a lot of her willpower to remain upright with Felicia slumped against her, her grip on the cheerleader's shoulders shifting into an under-the-shoulders hold as she tried to keep her steady. Felicia's choking fit continued, wetting the back of Yumi's shoulder with leaking fluids. Yumi had no idea what to do to help. She tried patting Felicia's back, rubbing her back, and rubbing her neck, but to no avail. Felicia's sickness continued, and she became increasingly worried. The seriousness of her condition was plain as day, and Yumi had no solution. She was trying everything that she could, but her abilities were extremely limited, and she had no supplies to work with. All she had at her disposal was a guess and a prayer.
At some point, Felicia stopped. Yumi was pretty sure that it didn't have anything to do with anything she had done, though. However, instead of feeling relief, her immediate reaction was fear. Felicia hadn't just stopped coughing, she had stopped doing anything at all. Her heaving breaths, the sniffs between gasps for air, all of that had stopped without warning. She just leaned limply against Yumi, who stared straight ahead with a hollow look in her eyes. What had just happened was dawning on her, but she didn't want to believe it. She couldn't accept it.
She turned and gently laid Felicia down, and a look at her face nearly made her sick again. Felicia was staring up at the sky with glassy eyes, and her lips were blue and open in mid-gasp. Yumi could draw one clear conclusion, but she forced herself to ignore it. Felicia had to be okay. She had already lost Lyndi and Ramona, and other friends that she hadn't followed on the island. Felicia needed to be okay. She put two fingers to Felicia's wrist to check for a pulse. No response. She checked the other wrist. No response. She moved to Felicia's neck. There had to be a pulse there.
No response.
"F-Felicia..."
Felicia was in trouble. Yumi needed to save her. She remembered a little bit of what they had learned about CPR in health class. She put her hands over Felicia's chest and started pressing, trying to force life back into her. But to her misfortune, her knowledge was slipping in the heat of the moment, and she couldn't remember the next step. She continued to pump while talking to Felicia, trying to sound encouraging.
"It's okay, it's okay... it's okay F-Felicia... I'm here..."
Her attempts at revival were having no effect aside from lightly shifting Felicia's torso. She brought her ear to Felicia's mouth, praying to hear her starting to breathe, or feel the heat of her breath. Instead, there was stillness, coolness, and silence. She had done everything that she could in a desperate attempt to convince herself otherwise, but she couldn't deny it any longer. Felicia was gone.
Yumi felt weak. She wanted to scream, but her body couldn't find the strength. She collapsed from her knees to the ground and held Felicia's body, crying into her chest as she realized that she was alone again.
It took a lot of her willpower to remain upright with Felicia slumped against her, her grip on the cheerleader's shoulders shifting into an under-the-shoulders hold as she tried to keep her steady. Felicia's choking fit continued, wetting the back of Yumi's shoulder with leaking fluids. Yumi had no idea what to do to help. She tried patting Felicia's back, rubbing her back, and rubbing her neck, but to no avail. Felicia's sickness continued, and she became increasingly worried. The seriousness of her condition was plain as day, and Yumi had no solution. She was trying everything that she could, but her abilities were extremely limited, and she had no supplies to work with. All she had at her disposal was a guess and a prayer.
At some point, Felicia stopped. Yumi was pretty sure that it didn't have anything to do with anything she had done, though. However, instead of feeling relief, her immediate reaction was fear. Felicia hadn't just stopped coughing, she had stopped doing anything at all. Her heaving breaths, the sniffs between gasps for air, all of that had stopped without warning. She just leaned limply against Yumi, who stared straight ahead with a hollow look in her eyes. What had just happened was dawning on her, but she didn't want to believe it. She couldn't accept it.
She turned and gently laid Felicia down, and a look at her face nearly made her sick again. Felicia was staring up at the sky with glassy eyes, and her lips were blue and open in mid-gasp. Yumi could draw one clear conclusion, but she forced herself to ignore it. Felicia had to be okay. She had already lost Lyndi and Ramona, and other friends that she hadn't followed on the island. Felicia needed to be okay. She put two fingers to Felicia's wrist to check for a pulse. No response. She checked the other wrist. No response. She moved to Felicia's neck. There had to be a pulse there.
No response.
"F-Felicia..."
Felicia was in trouble. Yumi needed to save her. She remembered a little bit of what they had learned about CPR in health class. She put her hands over Felicia's chest and started pressing, trying to force life back into her. But to her misfortune, her knowledge was slipping in the heat of the moment, and she couldn't remember the next step. She continued to pump while talking to Felicia, trying to sound encouraging.
"It's okay, it's okay... it's okay F-Felicia... I'm here..."
Her attempts at revival were having no effect aside from lightly shifting Felicia's torso. She brought her ear to Felicia's mouth, praying to hear her starting to breathe, or feel the heat of her breath. Instead, there was stillness, coolness, and silence. She had done everything that she could in a desperate attempt to convince herself otherwise, but she couldn't deny it any longer. Felicia was gone.
Yumi felt weak. She wanted to scream, but her body couldn't find the strength. She collapsed from her knees to the ground and held Felicia's body, crying into her chest as she realized that she was alone again.
She wasn't getting better, more vomit and more blood, she collapsed on the ground and started seizing and her breathing soon got slower and slower. And all he could do was be there. Uselessly sit and hold her as her life was zapped away and her guts puked out on the floor.
“Please, not you too…” It was just like at the woods. There was hope for something here, something good. Just like then. And now it had been all trampled over. His partner was dying through no fault of her own outside of being trusting. And he was alive.
And he saw attempt at speaking and focused on what she was trying to say.
Do good.
“Do good? Yeah, yeah I’ll do good. I promised you that. And remember back at the woods? What you promised there? Sophie, please. Please, live!”
But there was soon nothing left, it wasn't long before she was staring at the sky. Her breathing gone. Her eyes glazed, mouth open. Blood leaking and dripping from it.
"Sophie?"
And almost on cue it felt like all sound was gone from around him. He could hear his heartbeat and his breathing quicken to the point it felt like he was having an attack. He could hear the wretched sound of his blubbering of her name as sobs made their way.
He couldn't hear the bubbling of the tar pit nearby. He couldn't hear the distant cries of birds flying overhead scouting the area. He couldn't hear the other girls's broken hearts over their friend. He couldn't hear Wendy as she stood there, watching. Or Theo....
THEO
He looked away from her and forced his view upwards and saw him standing there, by the pot.
Of course, to get to me he…
James slowly got himself up on his knees and grabbed the machete.
“You motherfucker!”
James sprinted towards him and made for a swing. It was awkward and angled improperly, Theo dodged barely and he collided with him, the two collapsing on the ground. James dropping the machete in the process. Even so, he got up first and grabbed Theo by the hair and forced him over to the pot and dunked his head in.
“Please, not you too…” It was just like at the woods. There was hope for something here, something good. Just like then. And now it had been all trampled over. His partner was dying through no fault of her own outside of being trusting. And he was alive.
And he saw attempt at speaking and focused on what she was trying to say.
Do good.
“Do good? Yeah, yeah I’ll do good. I promised you that. And remember back at the woods? What you promised there? Sophie, please. Please, live!”
But there was soon nothing left, it wasn't long before she was staring at the sky. Her breathing gone. Her eyes glazed, mouth open. Blood leaking and dripping from it.
"Sophie?"
And almost on cue it felt like all sound was gone from around him. He could hear his heartbeat and his breathing quicken to the point it felt like he was having an attack. He could hear the wretched sound of his blubbering of her name as sobs made their way.
He couldn't hear the bubbling of the tar pit nearby. He couldn't hear the distant cries of birds flying overhead scouting the area. He couldn't hear the other girls's broken hearts over their friend. He couldn't hear Wendy as she stood there, watching. Or Theo....
THEO
He looked away from her and forced his view upwards and saw him standing there, by the pot.
Of course, to get to me he…
James slowly got himself up on his knees and grabbed the machete.
“You motherfucker!”
James sprinted towards him and made for a swing. It was awkward and angled improperly, Theo dodged barely and he collided with him, the two collapsing on the ground. James dropping the machete in the process. Even so, he got up first and grabbed Theo by the hair and forced him over to the pot and dunked his head in.
"Daddy look! Pretty flowers."
"Oh, be careful honey. Don't touch those purple flowers."
"How come, daddy?"
"Well honey, those purple flowers are called 'Aconite', if you touch them and accidentally get some in your mouth when you're having lunch, you might get sick, fall asleep and never wake up again. You don't want that, do you?"
"Sounds boring."
"I thought so. Come on now honey, let's get in the boat and do some fishing. Come on."
"Okay daddy!"
Daddy you lied.
Wendy stared at the soup.
A piece of the fish called Everett floated among soaked, purple petals Wendy had collected, provided by Clio when she mowed them down in the flower fields on that first day.
She'd have to rename the soup "Clio's Revenge" now, as it had taken her killer, Sophie, so violently too.
It wasn't supposed to be painful, especially not for a darling friend like Felicia, or a spirited peer like Sophie. They were supposed to pass out in a peaceful forever-sleep, freed from suffering this fate from the makers and players of this game they didn't deserve. To be laid at rest in the pits with all the others. Not this. Never like this. Foam and bile spilling from their mouths, bodies cramping, writhing, anguished cries of agony, blue lips and bloodshot eyes. This wasn't at all what she had intended.
No, she couldn't blame her dad. This was all her fault. She wanted to prove everyone wrong, she could be smarter. Turns out she'd done the opposite and proved them right.
She was dumb.
Dumb. Dumb. Dumb.
Her fingernails clawed into her own forearms more furiously than ever before.
Should have been Bunny, Miranda, K.K, even Saachi. Not them.
Before she knew it, the pot of stew she had been staring at, erupted with a splash as Wendy watched James forcefully plunge Theo's head directly into it, drowning him in the previously boiling vat.
She ducked away and fled back to her bag.
"Oh, be careful honey. Don't touch those purple flowers."
"How come, daddy?"
"Well honey, those purple flowers are called 'Aconite', if you touch them and accidentally get some in your mouth when you're having lunch, you might get sick, fall asleep and never wake up again. You don't want that, do you?"
"Sounds boring."
"I thought so. Come on now honey, let's get in the boat and do some fishing. Come on."
"Okay daddy!"
Daddy you lied.
Wendy stared at the soup.
A piece of the fish called Everett floated among soaked, purple petals Wendy had collected, provided by Clio when she mowed them down in the flower fields on that first day.
She'd have to rename the soup "Clio's Revenge" now, as it had taken her killer, Sophie, so violently too.
It wasn't supposed to be painful, especially not for a darling friend like Felicia, or a spirited peer like Sophie. They were supposed to pass out in a peaceful forever-sleep, freed from suffering this fate from the makers and players of this game they didn't deserve. To be laid at rest in the pits with all the others. Not this. Never like this. Foam and bile spilling from their mouths, bodies cramping, writhing, anguished cries of agony, blue lips and bloodshot eyes. This wasn't at all what she had intended.
No, she couldn't blame her dad. This was all her fault. She wanted to prove everyone wrong, she could be smarter. Turns out she'd done the opposite and proved them right.
She was dumb.
Dumb. Dumb. Dumb.
Her fingernails clawed into her own forearms more furiously than ever before.
Should have been Bunny, Miranda, K.K, even Saachi. Not them.
Before she knew it, the pot of stew she had been staring at, erupted with a splash as Wendy watched James forcefully plunge Theo's head directly into it, drowning him in the previously boiling vat.
She ducked away and fled back to her bag.
Irene had to do something she had to do something had to do something don't just stand there puking your guts out Irene you have to do something so hurry up, get on with puking your guts out so that you can stand up straight and walk straight and fucking do something about this shit before oh god oh my fucking god why and her stomach convulsed again and set a wave of air and bile and saliva up Irene's throat and out of her mouth and she rose to her feet and tried to take a few wobbly steps forward because she can fucking do this but her knees shook and buckled and she fell onto all fours, smearing vomit all over her dress. Fuck.
People were dying. People were dying in front of her, again, and there was nothing she could do about it. Again. Irene could hear them dying, the slowing in the convulsing and choking and gasping and sobbing. She could hear the cries of their friends desperately pleading with them to stay here, and all she could think was that if she was soon about to die too then she didn't want it to be like this. She didn't want to die on her knees, puking her guts out, desperately trying and failing to hang on for just a second longer so that she could choose some other way to die.
A commotion. An accusation. Somewhere between retches, Irene forced herself to look up from the ground, and there was James, and there was Theo with his face buried in the soup pot that had killed who knows how many people today. Sophie, Felicia, one sprawled on the ground, one in Yumi's arms. One, two. Two killed so far. Maybe three or four still, depending on whether Irene or Yumi were still going to die. And at this rate, maybe five.
Motherfucker.
Irene rose to her feet, swaying. Took a step, tested her weight. And it held. She walked over to her harpoon--did she have the time and energy for that?--picked it up, took unsteady steps towards the two boys. Theo was still alive, still struggling against James.
Nobody else had to die today.
"Hey, you. Stop that."
No response. The idiot was still intent on ruining everybody's day further. Or maybe he just didn't hear Irene. In any case, she could hardly blame him for having a bad day. She was having a bad day too. But it didn't have to be any worse than it already was, and if Irene could see that then she should be able to make him see it too, right?
"I said stop."
She swung the harpoon overhand, cracking it into his head. That motion alone was too much for Irene and her tenous grasp on balance, but that was fine. That was expected. She was trying her best.
She let her knees buckle again, and she flung her arms out as she collapsed against James, wrapping her arms around him and putting her whole weight on him as she tried to pull him to the ground. Gravity. Weight. The physical existence of her body. Those were her only tools at the moment. With luck, they'd be enough for now. Enough, to accomplish...something.
People were dying. People were dying in front of her, again, and there was nothing she could do about it. Again. Irene could hear them dying, the slowing in the convulsing and choking and gasping and sobbing. She could hear the cries of their friends desperately pleading with them to stay here, and all she could think was that if she was soon about to die too then she didn't want it to be like this. She didn't want to die on her knees, puking her guts out, desperately trying and failing to hang on for just a second longer so that she could choose some other way to die.
A commotion. An accusation. Somewhere between retches, Irene forced herself to look up from the ground, and there was James, and there was Theo with his face buried in the soup pot that had killed who knows how many people today. Sophie, Felicia, one sprawled on the ground, one in Yumi's arms. One, two. Two killed so far. Maybe three or four still, depending on whether Irene or Yumi were still going to die. And at this rate, maybe five.
Motherfucker.
Irene rose to her feet, swaying. Took a step, tested her weight. And it held. She walked over to her harpoon--did she have the time and energy for that?--picked it up, took unsteady steps towards the two boys. Theo was still alive, still struggling against James.
Nobody else had to die today.
"Hey, you. Stop that."
No response. The idiot was still intent on ruining everybody's day further. Or maybe he just didn't hear Irene. In any case, she could hardly blame him for having a bad day. She was having a bad day too. But it didn't have to be any worse than it already was, and if Irene could see that then she should be able to make him see it too, right?
"I said stop."
She swung the harpoon overhand, cracking it into his head. That motion alone was too much for Irene and her tenous grasp on balance, but that was fine. That was expected. She was trying her best.
She let her knees buckle again, and she flung her arms out as she collapsed against James, wrapping her arms around him and putting her whole weight on him as she tried to pull him to the ground. Gravity. Weight. The physical existence of her body. Those were her only tools at the moment. With luck, they'd be enough for now. Enough, to accomplish...something.
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Latin For Dragula
- Posts: 399
- Joined: Wed Aug 08, 2018 10:28 pm
If you were like Theo, and hey, deep down we all are a little bit, sometimes you came back to things you really liked. Sometimes you watched them over and over again. Handfuls, dozens, hundreds of times. You could quote them front to back. You could recite them in your sleep. You could make a really obsessive fanclub because you just really wanna talk about this thing nobody else seems to be interested in and then get real depressed when nobody shows up and then go home and write a blog post that nobody reads because you don't ever publish it because you know nobody will ever read it anyway and don't you already kind of feel like shit and why would you make that even harder on yourself why did you even try what was the point in proving what you already know do you just get off on humiliating yourself god what do you-
Digression. The point was even if you obsessed over something all the time, even if you did nothing but really think about it and its implications for days on end as long as you were awake, sometimes you didn't have time for every second. Sometimes you wanted to skip straight to that one scene that really made you fall in love with it. You wanted to watch on fast forward until you hit the exact second you fell in love for the first time.
Bringing James to justice was Theo's obsession.
He was stuck on fast forward waiting for him to inevitably go off and justify what he had coming to him.
Bodies hit the ground and he barely noticed, because in a way of course they did. Of course he pulled something. He didn't have to think about how. No need to question why. There was a genuine monster sitting in front of him with no value for anybody's life but his own. Of course it was his fault. No need to think about it any further.
That was fine. It was right. He just leaned on the button a little too hard, because it didn't all catch up to him until his head was being dunked right into the hot, waiting soup he'd apparently slaved over in zombie mode all day.
For those keeping score at home, Theo was officially awake now.
There wasn't much of a grip to get. The pot was too hot to hold on to and try to push himself out, he learned that each time he tried to grab on and snapped his hands away under competing instincts. He wasn't having much luck pushing away with his feet either. Theo had never been in a real fight. And as his breath churned out in desperate yelps underneath their lunch, he was starting to think that he wouldn't get the chance. Right now, this wasn't a fight. It was an execution.
Then James let go.
Droplets went flying around him as he jerked his head up and gasped in a lung full of air only to let it out again as he saw James stumbling away.
"MOTHERFUCKER!"
His singed hands held on to the pot just long enough to bash it into the back of James's head.
Digression. The point was even if you obsessed over something all the time, even if you did nothing but really think about it and its implications for days on end as long as you were awake, sometimes you didn't have time for every second. Sometimes you wanted to skip straight to that one scene that really made you fall in love with it. You wanted to watch on fast forward until you hit the exact second you fell in love for the first time.
Bringing James to justice was Theo's obsession.
He was stuck on fast forward waiting for him to inevitably go off and justify what he had coming to him.
Bodies hit the ground and he barely noticed, because in a way of course they did. Of course he pulled something. He didn't have to think about how. No need to question why. There was a genuine monster sitting in front of him with no value for anybody's life but his own. Of course it was his fault. No need to think about it any further.
That was fine. It was right. He just leaned on the button a little too hard, because it didn't all catch up to him until his head was being dunked right into the hot, waiting soup he'd apparently slaved over in zombie mode all day.
For those keeping score at home, Theo was officially awake now.
There wasn't much of a grip to get. The pot was too hot to hold on to and try to push himself out, he learned that each time he tried to grab on and snapped his hands away under competing instincts. He wasn't having much luck pushing away with his feet either. Theo had never been in a real fight. And as his breath churned out in desperate yelps underneath their lunch, he was starting to think that he wouldn't get the chance. Right now, this wasn't a fight. It was an execution.
Then James let go.
Droplets went flying around him as he jerked his head up and gasped in a lung full of air only to let it out again as he saw James stumbling away.
"MOTHERFUCKER!"
His singed hands held on to the pot just long enough to bash it into the back of James's head.
He was doing it! He held that bastard's head til his own poison would choke him or burn or what have you to death, drag him straight to hell. James was gonna keep his promise to Sophie, with his first act of good of removing this monster from their sight.
What a hypocrite! Made a such huge deal about robbery and taking care of Damion. And yet he’d left him behind and now he’d killed two people. James was going to make him pay, not just for his crimes, but his damn attitude as well. He felt his grip tighten on him. He bared his teeth in a mocking smile.
"How'd you like it motherfucker?! How do you like it!?"
He had been waiting days for this, hunting and looking for him. When he met Sophie it had sort of dropped from his mind, but sort of still there as well if that made sense? He knew what he’d do if he’d see to get his stuff back, but...not like this. Nothing like this.
And then he felt something hit him on the side head and his grip lessened. Then a pair of arms formed around him and his grip vanished, he was forced backwards. By the sound of her voice, it was one of the girls interfering. James didn't care who she was, nor her reasoning. She was getting in the way of him finally doing some good.
He turned his head to her. "What the fuck are y-" he felt something slam into his head and his balance shifted. His eyes went hazy and he collapsed on the ground, facefirst.
He heard movement of someone, probably Theo, back and forth and saying something. Voices ringing out unclear as James scrambled his thoughts together for something, anything resembling a plan.The whole thing being made more difficult by a ringing noise in James’s ears.
So to recap, his machete had been dropped on the grounds near the pots, his partner was dead a few metres away and it looked like he was gonna get killed by someone who wore a fedora on a regular basis.
Basically, not a good day to be James.
But he still had one thing that they didn't have, and as the steps shifted from him and the ringing was clearing down. James forced himself up on his knees and made a desperate, stumbling dash on the other side for something he should have used a long time ago.
What a hypocrite! Made a such huge deal about robbery and taking care of Damion. And yet he’d left him behind and now he’d killed two people. James was going to make him pay, not just for his crimes, but his damn attitude as well. He felt his grip tighten on him. He bared his teeth in a mocking smile.
"How'd you like it motherfucker?! How do you like it!?"
He had been waiting days for this, hunting and looking for him. When he met Sophie it had sort of dropped from his mind, but sort of still there as well if that made sense? He knew what he’d do if he’d see to get his stuff back, but...not like this. Nothing like this.
And then he felt something hit him on the side head and his grip lessened. Then a pair of arms formed around him and his grip vanished, he was forced backwards. By the sound of her voice, it was one of the girls interfering. James didn't care who she was, nor her reasoning. She was getting in the way of him finally doing some good.
He turned his head to her. "What the fuck are y-" he felt something slam into his head and his balance shifted. His eyes went hazy and he collapsed on the ground, facefirst.
He heard movement of someone, probably Theo, back and forth and saying something. Voices ringing out unclear as James scrambled his thoughts together for something, anything resembling a plan.The whole thing being made more difficult by a ringing noise in James’s ears.
So to recap, his machete had been dropped on the grounds near the pots, his partner was dead a few metres away and it looked like he was gonna get killed by someone who wore a fedora on a regular basis.
Basically, not a good day to be James.
But he still had one thing that they didn't have, and as the steps shifted from him and the ringing was clearing down. James forced himself up on his knees and made a desperate, stumbling dash on the other side for something he should have used a long time ago.
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Latin For Dragula
- Posts: 399
- Joined: Wed Aug 08, 2018 10:28 pm
Here's something you didn't think about every day: hot soup? Not super great for your eyes. That seemed obvious, but on TV people always shrugged it off so quick that while you got that it hurt, it didn't seem like that much more than a painful inconvenience. While it was both painful and inconvenient, it was also really, really hampering Theo's ability to see clearly. He wasn't sure who was on the ground or who had helped him or who was even still around. But there were a handful of things he could make out: The James Lump in his vision still stumbling away despite trying to smash his head in, the familiar lump he was headed towards that he'd tried to threaten him and Damion with before, and something shining next to the discarded pot.
Theo wasn't a killer. Even if he wanted to hurt James he didn't want to have to kill him. He just didn't know how else to stop him. So if he was waxing poetic about heroes and monsters and destiny, he probably could have seen that sharp edged promise of fate lying next to his lost fedora as Excalibur waiting for him to tug it from the stone and bring the terrible beast to its knees.
But while the end result still had the exact same aim, there was nothing poetic about the way Theo staggered to pull the machete free. No gallant heroism as he lurched to catch up to him. No valor in his scream as he cut a bright, red, deep line across the back of James's legs. The fairy tale refused to form with each of his body shuddering gasps for air left it distorted under the pressing reality that James had to be stopped.
Even if it meant cutting him down and seeing how he liked being abandoned until his collar beeped with certain, lonely death.
Theo wasn't a killer. Even if he wanted to hurt James he didn't want to have to kill him. He just didn't know how else to stop him. So if he was waxing poetic about heroes and monsters and destiny, he probably could have seen that sharp edged promise of fate lying next to his lost fedora as Excalibur waiting for him to tug it from the stone and bring the terrible beast to its knees.
But while the end result still had the exact same aim, there was nothing poetic about the way Theo staggered to pull the machete free. No gallant heroism as he lurched to catch up to him. No valor in his scream as he cut a bright, red, deep line across the back of James's legs. The fairy tale refused to form with each of his body shuddering gasps for air left it distorted under the pressing reality that James had to be stopped.
Even if it meant cutting him down and seeing how he liked being abandoned until his collar beeped with certain, lonely death.
He was almost there, he could taste it. The power it gave him, the control it would allow. Make all the bad things go away forever. That's all James wanted right now. And when he got there and had the sweet taste of it once more, the security of the metal in his hands and destruction it could unleash. he could finally put it to use.
But in his haste to get there James had forgotten one thing. One important thing. Well, two actually.
One: The machete was still in play. And two: How dedicated Theo would be to fucking up his day.
It wasn’t long before he heard the scream as Theo closed the distance, machete in hand. James felt the sharp pain emit from his leg as a line was drawn on his flesh and his screams echoed through the air and coalesced with Theo's. He cursed as he tried to hobble away, but Theo continued to advance.
He turned and flailed in the general direction of his face, wild punches and flurries aimed to get him away. To allow James the chance to breathe and to make some distance.
But in his haste to get there James had forgotten one thing. One important thing. Well, two actually.
One: The machete was still in play. And two: How dedicated Theo would be to fucking up his day.
It wasn’t long before he heard the scream as Theo closed the distance, machete in hand. James felt the sharp pain emit from his leg as a line was drawn on his flesh and his screams echoed through the air and coalesced with Theo's. He cursed as he tried to hobble away, but Theo continued to advance.
He turned and flailed in the general direction of his face, wild punches and flurries aimed to get him away. To allow James the chance to breathe and to make some distance.