((Pippa Andolini continued from Hiding From the Truth))
Pippa wandered into the graveyard. She wasn't entirely sure what compelled her to come here. Obviously, there was a bit of a poetic reason, seeing as how they were truly among the dead in this village. But for logical reasons, she had just decided to walk and ended up here. Pippa wasn't really the type for poetry anyways.
After leaving the church, Pippa made her way to a house and remained there for the rest of the day. It had been quite a long, arduous day, and she needed a period of inactivity. She took refuge in a small home, one with only a few places to enter from and that she could easily fortify. It was the kind of place people would ignore. With how few people were left, she knew the odds of someone walking in were rare. That at least gave her some time to eat, sleep, and clean herself a bit. She couldn't do much about the blood on her jacket, and she needed pockets, so she had to make do with the jacket as it was. She also made sure to tie up her hair in a ponytail and to move some of her items around. Having a gun that only fired one shot was bad, so she had to make sure she had spare ammo in her pockets and the knife within reach.
This also gave her time to listen to two announcements. She was a bit bothered Michelle wasn't on the first one. Either Pippa didn't stab her anywhere fatal, or someone found her and fixed her up. It wasn't until that morning's announcement she got confirmation that Michelle was gone. Pippa sighed in relief. She already knew Fisher and Galahad probably hated her, so having one less person to deal with helped. It also helped to know there were only ten people left.
Pippa walked over and rested against one grave. Just nine more deaths, and she could hopefully become a bargaining chip for the US. The government would forgive her for her actions, knowing that she was a prisoner of war and that they had no choice but to survive by all means. If the US executed her, they'd lose someone they could trade to the UK for American prisoners. The UK couldn't stand to let the public think they couldn't bring any of the kids home. Pippa had a whole night to think about, and she knew it was all fine. She didn't have to kill anyone else, but if she did, she knew it wouldn't work against her. She could spend the rest of her life atoning for her. She was sure of it.
Pippa looked around the graveyard. She wasn't sure where anyone was, but she was ready if anyone did come.
I am a stranger in this country
Open
I am a stranger in this country
G014: Mayumi Tendou
((Virgil Raeburn continued from Something to Beieve In))
The end drew nearer. Virgil somehow found himself back in the graveyard. Appropriate, maybe, a reminder of the fate rapidly approaching. Ten remained. Virgil, Kat, Cassandra, Oliver... six others. Not many candidates left. Oliver had to die, of course. As did Cassandra, but Virgil didn't think she was an existential threat like Oliver. No will to survive was very different from a will to not survive. She'd take care of herself. So seven left. Kat might work, if he could find her again. Virgil had somehow found himself back in the graveyard. A stark reminder of his rapidly approaching fate. Virgil found himself fearing the end more and more. Marcus Aurelius had said not to fear death, for it either led to a life after death (which was not truly the end) or a cessation of existence (where one would not be conscious of their miseries). Of course, this interpretation meant nothing to those who believed in a Christian Hell, where life after death had a real possibility of being an eternity of conscious torment, but Virgil was not among those. Virgil disagreed with the emperor on a different point, however, in that he viewed cessation of existence to be equivalent to Hell, regardless of whether or not he'd be conscious of his suffering, Which was why he needed to ensure his continued existence - and the existence of the others - through a survivor ready to carry that burden. That and because it was just the morally right thing to do, and because it was his destiny, and-
...Wait, what was he rambling on about? Where was he again? Oh, yes, the graveyard.
Virgil blinked and rubbed his eyes. When was the last time he had slept? He couldn't remember. It was irrelevant anyway, the time for sleep had passed. He could not rest until he'd finished his mission. Then he would rest forever, on and on. It would be a comfortable sleep, unless he failed. Then, it would be nothing more than eternal obscurity. Eternal ignorance. A void lacking in meaning...
He was scared.
"IS THERE ANYONE HERE?!" he shouted, as loud as he could. Time was running out. He couldn't waste any of it.
The end drew nearer. Virgil somehow found himself back in the graveyard. Appropriate, maybe, a reminder of the fate rapidly approaching. Ten remained. Virgil, Kat, Cassandra, Oliver... six others. Not many candidates left. Oliver had to die, of course. As did Cassandra, but Virgil didn't think she was an existential threat like Oliver. No will to survive was very different from a will to not survive. She'd take care of herself. So seven left. Kat might work, if he could find her again. Virgil had somehow found himself back in the graveyard. A stark reminder of his rapidly approaching fate. Virgil found himself fearing the end more and more. Marcus Aurelius had said not to fear death, for it either led to a life after death (which was not truly the end) or a cessation of existence (where one would not be conscious of their miseries). Of course, this interpretation meant nothing to those who believed in a Christian Hell, where life after death had a real possibility of being an eternity of conscious torment, but Virgil was not among those. Virgil disagreed with the emperor on a different point, however, in that he viewed cessation of existence to be equivalent to Hell, regardless of whether or not he'd be conscious of his suffering, Which was why he needed to ensure his continued existence - and the existence of the others - through a survivor ready to carry that burden. That and because it was just the morally right thing to do, and because it was his destiny, and-
...Wait, what was he rambling on about? Where was he again? Oh, yes, the graveyard.
Virgil blinked and rubbed his eyes. When was the last time he had slept? He couldn't remember. It was irrelevant anyway, the time for sleep had passed. He could not rest until he'd finished his mission. Then he would rest forever, on and on. It would be a comfortable sleep, unless he failed. Then, it would be nothing more than eternal obscurity. Eternal ignorance. A void lacking in meaning...
He was scared.
"IS THERE ANYONE HERE?!" he shouted, as loud as he could. Time was running out. He couldn't waste any of it.
Pippa's momentary rest was interrupted by some quite foolish screaming. She backed away from the gravestone and raised the rifle. Some idiot was seriously shouting loudly now that they were close to the end? Was he trying to die? Or was he driven mad by the game? Or was Pippa somehow much louder and more in the open than she thought?
It couldn't be the last one, even if there was a slim chance it was. Pippa crouched down a bit, hoping her frame could hide behind the nearest headstone. She kept the rifle steady and began to slowly move through the graveyard.
"Keep calm," she told herself. "Keep calm. You can survive this."
She still hadn't figured out where this person was. She rested her back against another headstone and looked around. He wasn't within sight.
"Don't do anything unnecessary," she told herself. "Stay calm, and you can survive this."
It couldn't be the last one, even if there was a slim chance it was. Pippa crouched down a bit, hoping her frame could hide behind the nearest headstone. She kept the rifle steady and began to slowly move through the graveyard.
"Keep calm," she told herself. "Keep calm. You can survive this."
She still hadn't figured out where this person was. She rested her back against another headstone and looked around. He wasn't within sight.
"Don't do anything unnecessary," she told herself. "Stay calm, and you can survive this."
G014: Mayumi Tendou
...
Nothing.
Was he alone, just him and the dead? At this point, should he be counted as one of the dead? As cold as a corpse, unable to affect the world around him...
He walked further into the graveyard, head down. Occasionally Virgil would brush his finger against a gravestone. They felt rough, worn down by time. The people beneath him, whose lives were only known to him by these markers, did they have anyone to continue their legacies? Descendants, carrying on their names and deeds? Or had the Americans kill them, too, when they took this town? Perhaps some of them had created works of art or built buildings that were even now being destroyed in his classmates' fighting. It was sad to think about.
Or, maybe, after the game was over, the residents would all move back, and they'd clean up the town so it was like the program had never happened. The students of Saint Editha would be the only ones forgotten by the town. If this graveyard became operational again, they wouldn't get headstones, or even a tiny memorial acknowledging they had died there just like the other people buried beneath his feet...
Virgil shivered. He was thinking useless nonsense again. His limbs felt heavy, his head light. He half-wanted to lay down into a coffin himself. But he had work to do. Still.
Nothing.
Was he alone, just him and the dead? At this point, should he be counted as one of the dead? As cold as a corpse, unable to affect the world around him...
He walked further into the graveyard, head down. Occasionally Virgil would brush his finger against a gravestone. They felt rough, worn down by time. The people beneath him, whose lives were only known to him by these markers, did they have anyone to continue their legacies? Descendants, carrying on their names and deeds? Or had the Americans kill them, too, when they took this town? Perhaps some of them had created works of art or built buildings that were even now being destroyed in his classmates' fighting. It was sad to think about.
Or, maybe, after the game was over, the residents would all move back, and they'd clean up the town so it was like the program had never happened. The students of Saint Editha would be the only ones forgotten by the town. If this graveyard became operational again, they wouldn't get headstones, or even a tiny memorial acknowledging they had died there just like the other people buried beneath his feet...
Virgil shivered. He was thinking useless nonsense again. His limbs felt heavy, his head light. He half-wanted to lay down into a coffin himself. But he had work to do. Still.
Pippa quickly dashed over to another large headstone and hid behind it. She tried to peer around and see if the shouter was anywhere nearby. She squinted, and noticed that there was someone near by. She knew it was a male student, although she wasn't sure who it was. If there were ten left, then Pippa knew that either he was a very fortunate person or a very dangerous person to still be around.
Pippa adjusted the rifle in her hands. She still had an element of surprise. She could try to crouch around the tombstone, aim, and fire. Then he'd be one less problem to deal with, and Pippa would be much closer to this game ending.
She breathed in and out as she lowered herself and held the rifle up. It'd be hard to fire with all the tombstones around. She'd have to wait for him to walk into a good point.
"Stay calm. Stay calm. Stay calm," she repeated to herself.
She just had to wait.
Pippa adjusted the rifle in her hands. She still had an element of surprise. She could try to crouch around the tombstone, aim, and fire. Then he'd be one less problem to deal with, and Pippa would be much closer to this game ending.
She breathed in and out as she lowered herself and held the rifle up. It'd be hard to fire with all the tombstones around. She'd have to wait for him to walk into a good point.
"Stay calm. Stay calm. Stay calm," she repeated to herself.
She just had to wait.
G014: Mayumi Tendou
Virgil came to a stop in front of the crypt. He had been admiring it before, hadn't he? Before he ran into Cassandra? It felt like an eternity had passed since then, even though it had only been... hmm, he couldn't remember how long it had been. Anyway, it hadn't been that long ago.
His eyes took in the carvings of fish along the sides. He supposed it made sense. The lives of the people here seemed to revolve around fish, it made sense they'd want that to continue into death. Though if they really wanted to rest with the fish it might have made more sense to just throw the bodies in the water and let the fish eat them-
Virgil chuckled. What strange things he was thinking about now. Wasn't there something he had to do...?
His eyes took in the carvings of fish along the sides. He supposed it made sense. The lives of the people here seemed to revolve around fish, it made sense they'd want that to continue into death. Though if they really wanted to rest with the fish it might have made more sense to just throw the bodies in the water and let the fish eat them-
Virgil chuckled. What strange things he was thinking about now. Wasn't there something he had to do...?
Pippa watched the boy stop at one of the crypts.
Waiting.
Waiting.
Waiting.
There had to be something. Some reason.
Some reason to end it.
It should be easy. One shot when he wasn't looking.
One less person to worry about.
But she didn't fire.
She just kept waiting.
Waiting for the reason to appear.
It should come any moment now.
Waiting.
Waiting.
Waiting.
There had to be something. Some reason.
Some reason to end it.
It should be easy. One shot when he wasn't looking.
One less person to worry about.
But she didn't fire.
She just kept waiting.
Waiting for the reason to appear.
It should come any moment now.
G014: Mayumi Tendou
He turned his head. To the graveyard around him. Rows and row of stones. A white gazebo in the distance.
He wondered if there were any bodies scattered around. Bodies he couldn't see. Those who had failed. Those who relied on him, now, to save them. Yes, that was right, Virgil had to save them.
It was harder than he thought it would be. He was so confident, but now...
He felt his eyes start to water. Strange, this never happened. Even when Rue died he didn't remember any tears. Just distraught screaming. Now, silent tears. It was a very different feeling. He didn't know why he was crying. He started to feel the droplets form, run down his face. He just wanted to do what was right. And then to rest. As long as he wanted.
He brought his arm to his face to wipe away the tears.
He wondered if there were any bodies scattered around. Bodies he couldn't see. Those who had failed. Those who relied on him, now, to save them. Yes, that was right, Virgil had to save them.
It was harder than he thought it would be. He was so confident, but now...
He felt his eyes start to water. Strange, this never happened. Even when Rue died he didn't remember any tears. Just distraught screaming. Now, silent tears. It was a very different feeling. He didn't know why he was crying. He started to feel the droplets form, run down his face. He just wanted to do what was right. And then to rest. As long as he wanted.
He brought his arm to his face to wipe away the tears.
And then the moment came.
Before Pippa could shoot Virgil in his crying face, the crackle of the announcements came on. Pippa pulled the rifle off the tombstone and crouched down behind it. She needed to be cautious right now. Virgil would probably be on alert right now anyways, so it meant she could take a moment to hear what was going on. At least, she hoped she could.
She listened as the General spoke. Sure enough, she was in endgame. Virgil was too, obviously. The other finalists surprised her a bit. Fisher was still alive, somehow using that laminated paper to make it to this point. The other was Galahad. Both boys, as the General said, wanted her dead. Probably because of Freya. Pippa rolled her eyes. Even now Freya was still giving her a headache. But the announcement did make it clear to her that her old way wouldn't work. They were at the end, and she likely wasn't going to be able to talk to Fisher and Galahad. They'd want her dead no matter what, so she'd have to assume they were set to kill her on sight. That was fine. She'd have to kill them on sight anyways now that salvation was so close.
Of course, the General also had to make a crack to Virgil to look behind. So much for the surprise.
But then again, the graveyard was exactly where they were all supposed to be. So what if Virgil knew someone was nearby? Pippa still had him in her range, and Fisher and Galahad probably weren't anywhere nearby. She still had her advantage.
Pippa pulled out the locket she had been wearing since she was abducted. She clicked it open and saw the photo of her ancestors. The ones who gave up everything to start in a new land. To make a life for themselves and their descendants despite all the war and chaos in the world. Pippa was all that was left for their sacrifice. All that was left after all the sweat, blood, and tears had dried up. This was what the Andolinis were born to do: to survive no matter what.
Once the announcement ended, Pippa peered out from the side of the tombstone. Virgil still didn't know she was there. She slowly crouched up and rested her rifle on the tombstone.
"Alright. Just three more," she said quietly to herself. "Three more and then it's over."
She closed one eye and took aim at Virgil.
"Three more to go."
((Pippa Andolini and Virgil Raeburn continued in Endgame))
Before Pippa could shoot Virgil in his crying face, the crackle of the announcements came on. Pippa pulled the rifle off the tombstone and crouched down behind it. She needed to be cautious right now. Virgil would probably be on alert right now anyways, so it meant she could take a moment to hear what was going on. At least, she hoped she could.
She listened as the General spoke. Sure enough, she was in endgame. Virgil was too, obviously. The other finalists surprised her a bit. Fisher was still alive, somehow using that laminated paper to make it to this point. The other was Galahad. Both boys, as the General said, wanted her dead. Probably because of Freya. Pippa rolled her eyes. Even now Freya was still giving her a headache. But the announcement did make it clear to her that her old way wouldn't work. They were at the end, and she likely wasn't going to be able to talk to Fisher and Galahad. They'd want her dead no matter what, so she'd have to assume they were set to kill her on sight. That was fine. She'd have to kill them on sight anyways now that salvation was so close.
Of course, the General also had to make a crack to Virgil to look behind. So much for the surprise.
But then again, the graveyard was exactly where they were all supposed to be. So what if Virgil knew someone was nearby? Pippa still had him in her range, and Fisher and Galahad probably weren't anywhere nearby. She still had her advantage.
Pippa pulled out the locket she had been wearing since she was abducted. She clicked it open and saw the photo of her ancestors. The ones who gave up everything to start in a new land. To make a life for themselves and their descendants despite all the war and chaos in the world. Pippa was all that was left for their sacrifice. All that was left after all the sweat, blood, and tears had dried up. This was what the Andolinis were born to do: to survive no matter what.
Once the announcement ended, Pippa peered out from the side of the tombstone. Virgil still didn't know she was there. She slowly crouched up and rested her rifle on the tombstone.
"Alright. Just three more," she said quietly to herself. "Three more and then it's over."
She closed one eye and took aim at Virgil.
"Three more to go."
((Pippa Andolini and Virgil Raeburn continued in Endgame))
G014: Mayumi Tendou