ES10: AKENO KUDO CONTINUED FROM I Was Young Not Too Long Ago
Mateo’s was the first corpse she had seen that she didn’t have anything to do with making.
Well, strictly speaking that wasn’t entirely true since there are been bodies on the ferry as well, but this was the first corpse Akeno had really looked at rather than just glanced at in passing. The ones she had seen on TV didn’t count either; with a screen between her and them they may as well not have been real. Reality didn’t compare.
Mateo was propped up against the wall in a seated position not unlike the one she had found Lucille in and much like her his shirt was covered in blood from the wound which had killed him; a collar explosion, from the looks of it. That meant he must have died when the cruise ship was made a danger zone, unless he or someone else was tinkering with the bomb around his neck. It wasn’t a pretty sight, whatever the cause of death. She couldn’t remember exactly when the danger zone had been announced, but it must have been a day or two since he’d died since there was no mistaking this corpse for a sleeping person, blood soaked clothes or otherwise. Mateo’s skin had a deathly, unsettling pallor and he had been sitting there long enough that a smell had started to form.
It was morbid and more than a little gross. Still, Akeno found it both easier and harder to look at this than to look at the other bodies; easier, because unlike Maxine or Jasper there was no guilt when she looked at Mateo, no desire to avert her eyes. Harder, because unlike Lucille she had no reason to make herself look; to confirm it for herself or just to make sure she didn’t forget the sight. There was nothing compelling Akeno to look at this corpse, no reason to approach, other than the fact that he was still wearing his backpack and she needed his supplies even if it meant holding her breath and trying not to look at his blank eyes as she leaned forward to grab the straps of his bag.
Because she was starting to think she might have to survive this on her own after all.
The last time she had spoken to her mentor Akeno had said she would look for her teammates, for her own sake, but if the announcements were anything to go by then her team wasn’t doing too well at the moment. If the announcements were accurate, and she had little reason to doubt them aside from the occasional mistake, then the Selkies were lacking in both kills and surviving members; the lack of kills wasn’t of concern to her, but the fact that her team had apparently dropped from seven members to four since she spoke to her mentor was a problem.
How many would still be alive come endgame, if any? Assuming Akeno even made it that far herself, how many allies would she have? Not Ivan; even if he survived until then he was playing his own game. Maybe Olivia, who Akeno still couldn’t remember, or the forth whose name she didn’t know. Better to focus on her own survival than to put false hope into teammates that couldn’t even keep themselves safe. Even if it meant spending her time robbing corpses rather than searching for allies.
A Little Piece of Heaven
Closed; Content warning for graphical violence
-
DerArknight
- Posts: 682
- Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2021 9:47 pm
- Team Affiliation: Jewel's Leviathans
((Sofia Kowalski continued from Play Stupid Games, Win Awesome Prizes))
Around five meters behind Akeno, moderately hidden in her black attire, Sofia readied the harpoon gun.
At the outside, she seemed calm. What the audience saw was a contestant who had killed before getting ready to kill again. Her future victim was also a killer, resulting in some moral ambiguity.
What the audience didn't know was that at the inside, Sofia was trying hard to keep her cool.
She remembered their first meeting back at the ferry. Back then, she had been scared of Akeno. Back then Sofia had just taken the live of someone she was supposed to work with, and her feelings had been in turmoil as a result.
Now her feelings were in turmoil, albeit out of different reasons. On the way to the cruise ship, she had reflected a lot. And she had come to a very unpleasant revelation.
Sofia had been way too careless lately.
Stories like getting caught by Britnee, getting separated from her group or almost dying due to a mistake happened sometimes on SOTF. She had seen enough of the show to realize that much. But in such a short timeframe to the same person? No, this was entirely on her. Maybe it was the feeling of security that being in a bigger group had given her. Maybe it was James. But the fact was that she needed to get her crap together if she wanted to survive.
Sofia's grip on the harpoon gun was as firm as she could manage with six fingers, but the gun still trembled.
A part of her wanted to stop. Wanted to just sneak away, leaving this place before Akeno even noticed her presence. But then what? The others had left Ivan alive, and Sofia had wittnessed the devastating results. On this show, not taking risks was just as risky as taking them.
She had to do this. To prove herself that she could get back on track. No more avoidable mistakes like letting her guard down in the shop boat or getting angry at a piece of fabric.
Sofia took a deep breath, calmed her hands and-
Around five meters behind Akeno, moderately hidden in her black attire, Sofia readied the harpoon gun.
At the outside, she seemed calm. What the audience saw was a contestant who had killed before getting ready to kill again. Her future victim was also a killer, resulting in some moral ambiguity.
What the audience didn't know was that at the inside, Sofia was trying hard to keep her cool.
She remembered their first meeting back at the ferry. Back then, she had been scared of Akeno. Back then Sofia had just taken the live of someone she was supposed to work with, and her feelings had been in turmoil as a result.
Now her feelings were in turmoil, albeit out of different reasons. On the way to the cruise ship, she had reflected a lot. And she had come to a very unpleasant revelation.
Sofia had been way too careless lately.
Stories like getting caught by Britnee, getting separated from her group or almost dying due to a mistake happened sometimes on SOTF. She had seen enough of the show to realize that much. But in such a short timeframe to the same person? No, this was entirely on her. Maybe it was the feeling of security that being in a bigger group had given her. Maybe it was James. But the fact was that she needed to get her crap together if she wanted to survive.
Sofia's grip on the harpoon gun was as firm as she could manage with six fingers, but the gun still trembled.
A part of her wanted to stop. Wanted to just sneak away, leaving this place before Akeno even noticed her presence. But then what? The others had left Ivan alive, and Sofia had wittnessed the devastating results. On this show, not taking risks was just as risky as taking them.
She had to do this. To prove herself that she could get back on track. No more avoidable mistakes like letting her guard down in the shop boat or getting angry at a piece of fabric.
Sofia took a deep breath, calmed her hands and-
-
Wham Yubeesling
- Posts: 1256
- Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2018 9:15 pm
- Location: there is a man standing behind you
- Team Affiliation: Stephanie's Buccaneers
- Contact:
-
DerArknight
- Posts: 682
- Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2021 9:47 pm
- Team Affiliation: Jewel's Leviathans
- got caught off-guard by the sudden music coming out of her collar.
The song played for maybe four seconds, but the loud volume startled her.
More out of reflex, the harpoon gun fired.
The harpoon, connected on a line to the gun, perfectly impaled the heart.
Unfortunately, it was the heart of the already deceased Mateo Ormeño.
Goddammit, Steph!
The song played for maybe four seconds, but the loud volume startled her.
More out of reflex, the harpoon gun fired.
The harpoon, connected on a line to the gun, perfectly impaled the heart.
Unfortunately, it was the heart of the already deceased Mateo Ormeño.
Goddammit, Steph!
Akeno half fell, half threw herself to the side at the sudden noise; the pirate shanty loudly announcing that she wasn’t alone a split-second before a harpoon speared the corpse in front of her. Just a split-second. She stared at it, mind momentarily blank as she sat there on the floor staring at the place where the metal haft of the spear stabbed into Mateo’s shirt, unsure if moving had saved her life or if her attacker would have missed either way. Shit, that had been too close; a moment too late, or a few inches to the side… if she hadn’t moved then she might have died. If she hadn’t…
Move. She had to keep moving.
Coming back to herself Akeno pushed herself away from Mateo’s body with her legs, pushing herself up with her hands and scrambling back to her feet as fast as she could. Taking her eyes off the harpoon she turned, facing whoever it was that had just tried to kill her.
“Sofia?”
Shit. Again?
Was the rest of her group, Fisk’s group, here too? The last thing she wanted to deal with right now was another uphill fight against whatever was left of the group that had killed both Jasper and Lucille. No, that wasn’t happening again until she got her hands on a decent weapon, something to level the playing field.
Something like a harpoon gun.
“Drop it.”
Move. She had to keep moving.
Coming back to herself Akeno pushed herself away from Mateo’s body with her legs, pushing herself up with her hands and scrambling back to her feet as fast as she could. Taking her eyes off the harpoon she turned, facing whoever it was that had just tried to kill her.
“Sofia?”
Shit. Again?
Was the rest of her group, Fisk’s group, here too? The last thing she wanted to deal with right now was another uphill fight against whatever was left of the group that had killed both Jasper and Lucille. No, that wasn’t happening again until she got her hands on a decent weapon, something to level the playing field.
Something like a harpoon gun.
“Drop it.”
-
DerArknight
- Posts: 682
- Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2021 9:47 pm
- Team Affiliation: Jewel's Leviathans
And with that, it had all gone to shit again. The fear from the ferry was back. Akeno would get to her before she could ready another shot. And Sofia had no other weapons. She could have tried to use a harpoon as a knife, but Akeno had already proved herself ridiculously strong in close combat. No chance.
Sofia didn't answer the question.
She didn't followed the order.
With a swift motion, she made an U-turn and ran.
Unfortunately, the panic had made her forget that the harpoon was still lodged in the corpse. After a few meters, a tug brought her to a stop. Mateo was dragged forward and fell face-first to the ground, but his weight was enough to stop Sofia.
Realizing what kept her chained, she dropped the harpoon gun.
Then she set off and sprinted down the dark hallway.
Sofia didn't answer the question.
She didn't followed the order.
With a swift motion, she made an U-turn and ran.
Unfortunately, the panic had made her forget that the harpoon was still lodged in the corpse. After a few meters, a tug brought her to a stop. Mateo was dragged forward and fell face-first to the ground, but his weight was enough to stop Sofia.
Realizing what kept her chained, she dropped the harpoon gun.
Then she set off and sprinted down the dark hallway.
Akeno took a deep, steadying breath and watched as Sofia ran, stumbled and ran again. The girl sprinted away from her before turning around a corner and disappearing from sight, but she didn’t make a move to follow just yet. The thought was there, the fear Sofia would get away and bring the others to her if she got away, but no; Akeno wouldn’t rush after her when there was a chance this was part of a plan to lead her into an ambush.
Besides, Sofia had just run into the crate maze. So long as the other girl didn’t know her way through that labyrinth there would be an opportunity to catch her. She could still hear the girl’s footsteps.
Walking back to Mateo’s fallen body she nudged it with her foot so that it was lying on its back. Keeping her foot in place she used it to pin the corpse down as she took hold of the harpoon in its chest with both hands and ripped it free with a tearing sound; she’d expected blood, but aside from that which was already there, there was none. The dead body had none left to shed.
Holding the harpoon with one hand, Akeno picked up the gun with the other.
She pursued Sofia into the maze.
Besides, Sofia had just run into the crate maze. So long as the other girl didn’t know her way through that labyrinth there would be an opportunity to catch her. She could still hear the girl’s footsteps.
Walking back to Mateo’s fallen body she nudged it with her foot so that it was lying on its back. Keeping her foot in place she used it to pin the corpse down as she took hold of the harpoon in its chest with both hands and ripped it free with a tearing sound; she’d expected blood, but aside from that which was already there, there was none. The dead body had none left to shed.
Holding the harpoon with one hand, Akeno picked up the gun with the other.
She pursued Sofia into the maze.
-
DerArknight
- Posts: 682
- Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2021 9:47 pm
- Team Affiliation: Jewel's Leviathans
Left.
Right.
Left.
Right.
Left.
Left.
Right.
At some point, Sofia became unable to keep up with the directions. All of the corridors looked the same, only differing in some being darker than others.
The echo of her steps sounded all-embracing, coming from every direction at once.
And it weren't only her steps making echoes.
Right.
Left.
Right.
Left.
Left.
Right.
At some point, Sofia became unable to keep up with the directions. All of the corridors looked the same, only differing in some being darker than others.
The echo of her steps sounded all-embracing, coming from every direction at once.
And it weren't only her steps making echoes.
Left.
Right.
Left.
Right.
Left.
Akeno followed Sofia as best she could, using the sounds the other girl made as a guide. The maze was as confusing as it had been before, the wooden crates around her each as identical as the last, but she didn’t have to know the layout when her only goal was pursuit; in this, the seemingly endless turns and corridor were a benefit, not a hindrance.
Placing the harpoon in the end of the gun, reloading it, she wound the rope up so that it wouldn’t get in the way. She took the next left with her finger resting on the trigger, Sofia’s footsteps a little bit closer than before.
Right.
Left.
Right.
Left.
Akeno followed Sofia as best she could, using the sounds the other girl made as a guide. The maze was as confusing as it had been before, the wooden crates around her each as identical as the last, but she didn’t have to know the layout when her only goal was pursuit; in this, the seemingly endless turns and corridor were a benefit, not a hindrance.
Placing the harpoon in the end of the gun, reloading it, she wound the rope up so that it wouldn’t get in the way. She took the next left with her finger resting on the trigger, Sofia’s footsteps a little bit closer than before.
-
DerArknight
- Posts: 682
- Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2021 9:47 pm
- Team Affiliation: Jewel's Leviathans
Left.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Lef-
Suddenly, Akeno stood before her in the middle of the hallway, the harpoon gun ready. The other girl's face was hidden in shadows, but there was no need to see.
Sofia ducked. While doing so, she readied her backpack.
Without slowing down, she threw it at Akeno.
Then she changed course.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Right.
Lef-
Suddenly, Akeno stood before her in the middle of the hallway, the harpoon gun ready. The other girl's face was hidden in shadows, but there was no need to see.
Sofia ducked. While doing so, she readied her backpack.
Without slowing down, she threw it at Akeno.
Then she changed course.
Right.
She found Sofia. Or rather, Sofia found her.
The thrown backpack impacted on Akeno’s raised arms, impairing her vision momentarily before a sweep of her arms threw it aside. Sofia had disappeared in the brief moment that she couldn’t be seen, but the other girl couldn’t hide the sounds she made as she fled; not when they were the only sounds down here other than Akeno’s own. The hastily retreating footsteps easily gave her away.
Akeno took a moment to regain her bearings, before taking the right path.
“Sofia?” Loud; her voice sounded loud in the relative silence of the bowels. Still there were no other sounds but a single set of footsteps, slowly getting closer. “Are you alone?”
The thrown backpack impacted on Akeno’s raised arms, impairing her vision momentarily before a sweep of her arms threw it aside. Sofia had disappeared in the brief moment that she couldn’t be seen, but the other girl couldn’t hide the sounds she made as she fled; not when they were the only sounds down here other than Akeno’s own. The hastily retreating footsteps easily gave her away.
Akeno took a moment to regain her bearings, before taking the right path.
“Sofia?” Loud; her voice sounded loud in the relative silence of the bowels. Still there were no other sounds but a single set of footsteps, slowly getting closer. “Are you alone?”
-
DerArknight
- Posts: 682
- Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2021 9:47 pm
- Team Affiliation: Jewel's Leviathans
Akeno knew.
If the others were nearby, they would have shown themselves already. There was no way Akeno didn't realize that. This innocent question was just a way of teasing Sofia, reminding her how screwed she was.
For that reason, she didn't even consider answering.
Sofia ran faster than before. Her lungs complained, but she didn't care. Once she was back on Jame's side she would rest. But for that to happen, she had to get out of here.
After taking another left turn, she suddenly saw a person lying on the ground. When running past, she caught a glimpse of the face.
Hanna Choi.
Hanna had been on the last announcement not too long ago. Was Gabriela still nearby? Maybe she was dealing with two hunters?
Sofia shook her head.
Stop thinking. Just run.
If the others were nearby, they would have shown themselves already. There was no way Akeno didn't realize that. This innocent question was just a way of teasing Sofia, reminding her how screwed she was.
For that reason, she didn't even consider answering.
Sofia ran faster than before. Her lungs complained, but she didn't care. Once she was back on Jame's side she would rest. But for that to happen, she had to get out of here.
After taking another left turn, she suddenly saw a person lying on the ground. When running past, she caught a glimpse of the face.
Hanna Choi.
Hanna had been on the last announcement not too long ago. Was Gabriela still nearby? Maybe she was dealing with two hunters?
Sofia shook her head.
Stop thinking. Just run.
The footsteps broke into a run and Akeno quickened her pace to match, pressing forward more insistently than before. The lack of an answer didn’t mean she was right in her assumption that Sofia was alone, it could just as easily mean that she was giving up the pretence and rushing back to the others now that she had been called out.
If it was the latter, it meant they weren’t close.
Where was Fisk? Where was Verity? Not down here, she didn’t think; not in bowels at least. Were they waiting outside, or had Sofia really separated from the others? Either was possible, but it didn’t matter; she was alone right now and Akeno could catch her before she got away.
“Stop running, Sofia. I’m not going to hurt you.”
If it was the latter, it meant they weren’t close.
Where was Fisk? Where was Verity? Not down here, she didn’t think; not in bowels at least. Were they waiting outside, or had Sofia really separated from the others? Either was possible, but it didn’t matter; she was alone right now and Akeno could catch her before she got away.
“Stop running, Sofia. I’m not going to hurt you.”
-
DerArknight
- Posts: 682
- Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2021 9:47 pm
- Team Affiliation: Jewel's Leviathans
Had there ever been a less believable lie?
Sofia didn't stop running.
Sofia didn't stop running.
-
DerArknight
- Posts: 682
- Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2021 9:47 pm
- Team Affiliation: Jewel's Leviathans
She didn't stop running.