((I'm prepared to edit my post if I've made a big mistake about the hospital's layout))
((Kyle Fitzpatrick continued from How Can I Own a Real Chanel When There's So Much Poverty in the World?))
Kyle leaned his shovel against the ground as he reached the hospital. They really should have though about where to look for the bodies. The shovels were not too hard to find, all things considered. They were in pretty bad shape, but they seemed sturdy enough to work for a little while. The real problem was finding the bodies, since the locations of death weren't mentioned on the announcements. He and Claire had spent the better part of the morning searching, eventually finding themselves at the hospital.
His entrance was stopped as he noticed people moving within the lobby. Kyle didn't know about Claire, but he definitely did not feel comfortable engaging with another group. He looked around. Maybe there was another entrance.
He whispered to Claire to follow him as he slowly walked around to the back of the building. Thankfully, there was a back entrance. He tried the knob. It worked. He quickly glanced behind him before walking inside.
He entered the hospital to find himself in front of a long hallway. Sighing, he set off, reading the door signs as he went. Hopefully he wouldn't meet anyone else inside. Eventually he came upon a door with a set of stairs, which he entered. He climbed up to the top floor, as far away from the lobby as possible. He read the sign as he got there.
Maternity and Children's Ward.
Un Coeur en Hiver
((Claire Monaghan continued from How Could I Own a Real Chanel When There's So Much Poverty in the World?))
Claire followed Kyle as they made their way into the back entrance of the hospital. She had her shovel behind her neck and held it like a scarecrow. She and Kyle were fortunate enough to find some shovels in the neighborhood, but they didn't have much luck finding anything else. They were lucky enough to make their way to the hospital. There had to be a morgue or rooms with materials that would be perfect for their burial projects. If anything, they'd probably find a way to cart the bodies around.
Claire was a little concerned as to why Kyle didn't want to interact with the people in the front of the hospital. She figured he was still a bit nervous after encountering Becca and Paulo yesterday. She decided to go along with it though. Yes, there was a chance that the people in the lobby could be dangerous, but the two of them had a dynamic forming, and she wasn't going to compromise it unless she was certain an additional person would prove beneficial to their task.
After a quick climb up the stairs, they reached the top floor: Maternity and Children's Ward. Claire began to look around the area.
Hmm... well, I guess this is a start. It's not like we'll run into Nurse Joker or any of the babies from Uzumaki here. Still, better keep the shovel ready to strike, only in the most dire of circumstances though.
Claire turned to Kyle, placing her shovel in her right hand and pointing the shovel blade on the ground.
"Okay, I guess we ought to look for some supplies. I think we should mainly look for canvas sheets, maybe some cord, and probably a gurney or a wheelchair. I doubt we'll be able to use an elevator here, but maybe there will be a gurney on a lower level."
She then cleared her throat.
"Well, let's begin."
Claire followed Kyle as they made their way into the back entrance of the hospital. She had her shovel behind her neck and held it like a scarecrow. She and Kyle were fortunate enough to find some shovels in the neighborhood, but they didn't have much luck finding anything else. They were lucky enough to make their way to the hospital. There had to be a morgue or rooms with materials that would be perfect for their burial projects. If anything, they'd probably find a way to cart the bodies around.
Claire was a little concerned as to why Kyle didn't want to interact with the people in the front of the hospital. She figured he was still a bit nervous after encountering Becca and Paulo yesterday. She decided to go along with it though. Yes, there was a chance that the people in the lobby could be dangerous, but the two of them had a dynamic forming, and she wasn't going to compromise it unless she was certain an additional person would prove beneficial to their task.
After a quick climb up the stairs, they reached the top floor: Maternity and Children's Ward. Claire began to look around the area.
Hmm... well, I guess this is a start. It's not like we'll run into Nurse Joker or any of the babies from Uzumaki here. Still, better keep the shovel ready to strike, only in the most dire of circumstances though.
Claire turned to Kyle, placing her shovel in her right hand and pointing the shovel blade on the ground.
"Okay, I guess we ought to look for some supplies. I think we should mainly look for canvas sheets, maybe some cord, and probably a gurney or a wheelchair. I doubt we'll be able to use an elevator here, but maybe there will be a gurney on a lower level."
She then cleared her throat.
"Well, let's begin."
As Kyle walked through the ward, the first thing that he noticed was the faint smell of decay. It wasn't quite strong enough to really identify the source, but it was present none the less. Hefting his shovel over his shoulder, he shuffled off through the hall.
The light streaming in from the windows did nothing to dispel the creepiness of the abandoned ward. Ignoring the obvious dangers of hidden assailants, the structure seemed like it could collapse at any moment. Kyle hurried his steps in order to be done with this place as soon as possible.
His walk was disrupted when he hit his foot on something. He looked down. It was a bag, upended on the ground and surrounded by supplies. Kyle bent down and flipped the bag over, reading the writing on the side.
B033: Jason Meyers
The name didn't ring any bells with Kyle, but he figured that nobody would leave their bag behind unless something was terribly wrong. He shoved the remaining food into his bag. No sense letting it go to waste.
Kyle continued down the hall, following the worsening stench. Eventually he came to the room at the end of the hall. He could hear the buzzing of flies behind the door. This was probably it. He swung open the door.
On the far side of the room was a bloody corpse, covered in flies. Kyle tried to shoo them off as he looked over the body. The face was so ruined it was unrecognisable. Well, at least a gunshot to the head didn't leave much time to suffer. He leaned his head out of the room and yelled to Claire.
"I'm going to need some help in here."
The light streaming in from the windows did nothing to dispel the creepiness of the abandoned ward. Ignoring the obvious dangers of hidden assailants, the structure seemed like it could collapse at any moment. Kyle hurried his steps in order to be done with this place as soon as possible.
His walk was disrupted when he hit his foot on something. He looked down. It was a bag, upended on the ground and surrounded by supplies. Kyle bent down and flipped the bag over, reading the writing on the side.
B033: Jason Meyers
The name didn't ring any bells with Kyle, but he figured that nobody would leave their bag behind unless something was terribly wrong. He shoved the remaining food into his bag. No sense letting it go to waste.
Kyle continued down the hall, following the worsening stench. Eventually he came to the room at the end of the hall. He could hear the buzzing of flies behind the door. This was probably it. He swung open the door.
On the far side of the room was a bloody corpse, covered in flies. Kyle tried to shoo them off as he looked over the body. The face was so ruined it was unrecognisable. Well, at least a gunshot to the head didn't leave much time to suffer. He leaned his head out of the room and yelled to Claire.
"I'm going to need some help in here."
((All handling of Jason's body in this thread has been approved by leAloha))
Claire made her way into a patient's room after splitting up from Kyle. The room sent some chills through her spine. There had been kids staying in this room many years earlier. Their toys and drawings littered the floor. Claire knelt to the floor and picked up one doll in particular. It was missing an eye, its dress was getting tattered, and it was beginning to lose its color. She placed the doll back on the floor.
Okay, the cliche is met, now let's get busy.
Claire walked over to a nearby bed and began to strip the sheets, placing her bag and shovel on the ground. They'd need to wrap any bodies they found, and the sheets were prime for use. She began to fold the sheets neatly to make them easier to carry.
Eh, it's like Pirate Jenny said: there's nobody gonna sleep here tonight. Well, that I know of.
Her train of thought was interrupted by Kyle shouting. It sounded like he found something serious in the other room. Claire immediately put her bag over her shoulders, grasping her shovel in one hand and putting the sheets under her armpit. She ran out of the room and run over to where the source of the shouting was from.
She froze in the door frame as she saw what Kyle found. There was a body in the room, one that was already attracting flies.
"Holy shit," she muttered as she walked closer.
She approached the body and knelt to the ground, setting the shovel and sheets on the floor. Part of her began to feel sick. It wasn't like a corpse in a film. Everything was too visceral right now. This boy was dead, and his body was decomposing before her. She turned the body so she could get a look at who it was, but he was badly damaged. She turned to Kyle.
"Fuck... do you know who this is?" she asked.
Claire made her way into a patient's room after splitting up from Kyle. The room sent some chills through her spine. There had been kids staying in this room many years earlier. Their toys and drawings littered the floor. Claire knelt to the floor and picked up one doll in particular. It was missing an eye, its dress was getting tattered, and it was beginning to lose its color. She placed the doll back on the floor.
Okay, the cliche is met, now let's get busy.
Claire walked over to a nearby bed and began to strip the sheets, placing her bag and shovel on the ground. They'd need to wrap any bodies they found, and the sheets were prime for use. She began to fold the sheets neatly to make them easier to carry.
Eh, it's like Pirate Jenny said: there's nobody gonna sleep here tonight. Well, that I know of.
Her train of thought was interrupted by Kyle shouting. It sounded like he found something serious in the other room. Claire immediately put her bag over her shoulders, grasping her shovel in one hand and putting the sheets under her armpit. She ran out of the room and run over to where the source of the shouting was from.
She froze in the door frame as she saw what Kyle found. There was a body in the room, one that was already attracting flies.
"Holy shit," she muttered as she walked closer.
She approached the body and knelt to the ground, setting the shovel and sheets on the floor. Part of her began to feel sick. It wasn't like a corpse in a film. Everything was too visceral right now. This boy was dead, and his body was decomposing before her. She turned the body so she could get a look at who it was, but he was badly damaged. She turned to Kyle.
"Fuck... do you know who this is?" she asked.
((GMing approved))
That was a very good question. There really wasn't much way to identify him from the body. His face was gone, and his personal effects weren't with him.
Wait.
Kyle remembered the bag in the hallway. The kid probably dropped it while running from whoever killed him. He turned back to Claire.
"I can't tell for sure, but I think I found his bag in the hall. The name on it was Jason... Jason Meyers."
Kyle looked around trying to find some way to help deal with the body. Eventually, his gaze fell upon the bundle of sheets in Claire's arms. It wouldn't be of much use for carrying, but at least they could cover him to keep themselves clean from the blood.
As the thought entered his mind, he became suddenly aware of the large puddle of blood that he was standing in. He stepped back, trying to wipe his shoes off on the ground. With that done, he turned back to Claire. He could tell that the corpse was upsetting her.
"Um, why don't I wrap up the body while you find something to help carry it?"
With that he took the sheets from her and walked up beside the corpse. He looked down. There didn't seem to be anywhere that he could kneel that wasn't covered with blood. So much for keeping clean. He finally settled upon an area where the floor was mostly try and began to work. There was just one problem.
He wasn't exactly sure how to wrap a body. He had seen a couple documentaries about ancient Egypt and mummy wrapping, but this was barely even comparable. He supposed that the only way for him to learn now was through trial and error.
After a few preliminary attempts, he settled upon a cocoon like pattern, bundling everything into one cylindrical shape. The white sheets quickly became red as he stepped back to survey his handiwork. It wasn't great, but it would have to do for the time being. He leaned against the wall, looking towards the door. Now all he needed to do was wait for Claire.
That was a very good question. There really wasn't much way to identify him from the body. His face was gone, and his personal effects weren't with him.
Wait.
Kyle remembered the bag in the hallway. The kid probably dropped it while running from whoever killed him. He turned back to Claire.
"I can't tell for sure, but I think I found his bag in the hall. The name on it was Jason... Jason Meyers."
Kyle looked around trying to find some way to help deal with the body. Eventually, his gaze fell upon the bundle of sheets in Claire's arms. It wouldn't be of much use for carrying, but at least they could cover him to keep themselves clean from the blood.
As the thought entered his mind, he became suddenly aware of the large puddle of blood that he was standing in. He stepped back, trying to wipe his shoes off on the ground. With that done, he turned back to Claire. He could tell that the corpse was upsetting her.
"Um, why don't I wrap up the body while you find something to help carry it?"
With that he took the sheets from her and walked up beside the corpse. He looked down. There didn't seem to be anywhere that he could kneel that wasn't covered with blood. So much for keeping clean. He finally settled upon an area where the floor was mostly try and began to work. There was just one problem.
He wasn't exactly sure how to wrap a body. He had seen a couple documentaries about ancient Egypt and mummy wrapping, but this was barely even comparable. He supposed that the only way for him to learn now was through trial and error.
After a few preliminary attempts, he settled upon a cocoon like pattern, bundling everything into one cylindrical shape. The white sheets quickly became red as he stepped back to survey his handiwork. It wasn't great, but it would have to do for the time being. He leaned against the wall, looking towards the door. Now all he needed to do was wait for Claire.
Jason Meyers. He was a brony, if Claire recalled. Claire had found a few episodes of the show online. She found a few songs cute, and she liked the art style. She couldn't get as rabid about it as a lot of people online, but she had to respect someone for being passionate about something. It was hard to think that a boy who should have been watching Twilight Sparkle and her friends sing about friendship was now dead before her.
Kyle offered to wrap the body while she found something to transport him with. Claire shook out of her funk.
"Um, yeah, I, uh, will do just that. Excuse me."
Claire quickly got up, leaving everything but the shovel behind. She didn't need to be weighed down while she did her work, but she also didn't want to be helpless, so she quickly moved out of the room and back into the stairwell. As she moved down the stairs, she found herself breathing heavily. She stopped in the stairwell and leaned against the wall. She closed her eyes and let out a small groan.
Goddammit, that was a real corpse. Fuck...
Claire quickly lifted her head back and hit it against the wall. She couldn't just stay in one place. She and Kyle had a job to do. No one was forcing them to do it, but they agreed to do it. She'd just have to be a big girl and actually do the work she promised she would do. Claire Emilia Monaghan wasn't one to just quit an assignment that easily.
She exited the stairwell and soon found herself on the first floor again. She began to walk through some of the nearby rooms. The rooms on the first floor were mostly emergency rooms. There weren't too many wheelchairs present, but Claire did find exactly what they needed.
A hospital gurney was just outside one patient's room. The sheets were used, judging by the stains on the sheets. Claire looked at the faded stain and felt herself grimace.
"Jesus, this fucking hospital," she muttered to herself.
Claire quickly tore the sheets off of the gurney and tossed them on the floor. They wouldn't need too much to cover Jason. He'd be covered enough if Kyle did his job right anyways. She tried to push the gurney, but it wouldn't move. She kneeled to the ground and saw that the wheels were locked, causing her to sigh in frustration.
"Well, we can't let everything go my way," she snarked.
After quickly unlocking the wheels, she pushed the gurney down the hall, laying the shovel on top as she pushed it. She pushed it to the back door she and Kyle entered the hospital from. There was no way she'd get it upstairs, so they'd have to carry the body downstairs.
After setting the gurney outside of the hospital and grabbing the shovel, Claire made her way back up the stairs. They were really going to do this. They were actually going to be touching a corpse and giving it a funeral. The whole thing was so surreal that she swore she was in a David Lynch film.
Claire soon made it back to the room they found the body in and leaned into the room.
"Hey, I got a gurney downstairs. Let's go," she quickly said to Kyle.
Alright, now the hard part.
Kyle offered to wrap the body while she found something to transport him with. Claire shook out of her funk.
"Um, yeah, I, uh, will do just that. Excuse me."
Claire quickly got up, leaving everything but the shovel behind. She didn't need to be weighed down while she did her work, but she also didn't want to be helpless, so she quickly moved out of the room and back into the stairwell. As she moved down the stairs, she found herself breathing heavily. She stopped in the stairwell and leaned against the wall. She closed her eyes and let out a small groan.
Goddammit, that was a real corpse. Fuck...
Claire quickly lifted her head back and hit it against the wall. She couldn't just stay in one place. She and Kyle had a job to do. No one was forcing them to do it, but they agreed to do it. She'd just have to be a big girl and actually do the work she promised she would do. Claire Emilia Monaghan wasn't one to just quit an assignment that easily.
She exited the stairwell and soon found herself on the first floor again. She began to walk through some of the nearby rooms. The rooms on the first floor were mostly emergency rooms. There weren't too many wheelchairs present, but Claire did find exactly what they needed.
A hospital gurney was just outside one patient's room. The sheets were used, judging by the stains on the sheets. Claire looked at the faded stain and felt herself grimace.
"Jesus, this fucking hospital," she muttered to herself.
Claire quickly tore the sheets off of the gurney and tossed them on the floor. They wouldn't need too much to cover Jason. He'd be covered enough if Kyle did his job right anyways. She tried to push the gurney, but it wouldn't move. She kneeled to the ground and saw that the wheels were locked, causing her to sigh in frustration.
"Well, we can't let everything go my way," she snarked.
After quickly unlocking the wheels, she pushed the gurney down the hall, laying the shovel on top as she pushed it. She pushed it to the back door she and Kyle entered the hospital from. There was no way she'd get it upstairs, so they'd have to carry the body downstairs.
After setting the gurney outside of the hospital and grabbing the shovel, Claire made her way back up the stairs. They were really going to do this. They were actually going to be touching a corpse and giving it a funeral. The whole thing was so surreal that she swore she was in a David Lynch film.
Claire soon made it back to the room they found the body in and leaned into the room.
"Hey, I got a gurney downstairs. Let's go," she quickly said to Kyle.
Alright, now the hard part.
((GMing Approved))
Well, at least the downstairs transportation was arranged. Now for the problem of getting the corpse down there. Kyle looked around the room. The body was too heavy to just carry down the stairs, anyway. He took a few steps out into the hallway, scratching his head.
After a few moments of looking, his eyes settled on a rusty, beat-up wheelchair leaning against the corner. He walked over and began to wheel it into the room, wincing inwardly as the wheels squeaked loudly.
"I suppose we can use this until we get him downstairs."
He walked over to the wrapped corpse. The blood staining the sheets had mostly dried, leaving them a mostly dark brown colour. It was all rather surreal, handling an actual dead body like this. He paused, taking a deep breath as Claire picked up the other end of the sheets. They took a few steps together, trying to put his body in the wheelchair. There was only one problem.
It didn't fit.
Although Kyle had noticed some stiffness while wrapping the body, he didn't think it would be this bad. He and Claire could probably get it down the stairs without too much trouble, but they also had their bags to worry about.
After a few attempts, the two of them settled on laying his body across the armrests. It was a rather precarious position, but it would have to do. Grabbing onto the handlebars, Kyle pushed it forward, leaving the bags behind for Claire to carry.
The disconcerting squeaking of the wheels began again as he pushed the chair through the hallway. Eventually, they reached the door to the stairwell. He turned to Claire, opening to door as he spoke.
"Well, here goes nothing."
Well, at least the downstairs transportation was arranged. Now for the problem of getting the corpse down there. Kyle looked around the room. The body was too heavy to just carry down the stairs, anyway. He took a few steps out into the hallway, scratching his head.
After a few moments of looking, his eyes settled on a rusty, beat-up wheelchair leaning against the corner. He walked over and began to wheel it into the room, wincing inwardly as the wheels squeaked loudly.
"I suppose we can use this until we get him downstairs."
He walked over to the wrapped corpse. The blood staining the sheets had mostly dried, leaving them a mostly dark brown colour. It was all rather surreal, handling an actual dead body like this. He paused, taking a deep breath as Claire picked up the other end of the sheets. They took a few steps together, trying to put his body in the wheelchair. There was only one problem.
It didn't fit.
Although Kyle had noticed some stiffness while wrapping the body, he didn't think it would be this bad. He and Claire could probably get it down the stairs without too much trouble, but they also had their bags to worry about.
After a few attempts, the two of them settled on laying his body across the armrests. It was a rather precarious position, but it would have to do. Grabbing onto the handlebars, Kyle pushed it forward, leaving the bags behind for Claire to carry.
The disconcerting squeaking of the wheels began again as he pushed the chair through the hallway. Eventually, they reached the door to the stairwell. He turned to Claire, opening to door as he spoke.
"Well, here goes nothing."
Kyle stepped out of the room. Claire figured he was looking for any other possible supplies that they could use. That did leave her alone in the room with the dead body. Claire approached the swaddled corpse and kneeled beside it.
"So, um, hi," she said to Jason's body. "So, we're gonna get you out of here and hopefully somewhere better. How does that sound?"
Did you really just talk to the dead body and expect it to respond? Who are you, Doctor Orpheus?
Kyle returned with a wheelchair. Now it made sense. They couldn't take a gurney down the steps, but a wheelchair would probably be easier to use. Now they just had to set the body in place and they could go. Claire helped lift the body off the ground, internally squirming at touching the corpse, and tried to set it in the chair.
This, it turned out, was a lot harder than Claire thought.
The body was already stiff, and since rigor mortis wasn't going to go away any time soon, they had to figure out the best way to set the body. Eventually, they had to settle on lying the body on top of the armrests. It looked weird, but this was clearly as good as it would get.
Kyle began to push it, leaving Claire to take the bags and shovels. They made their way back to the stairwell. It was time to go.
"Yeah, let's do this. I'll go first, then you move down the steps backwards. That should keep the body from falling off. Take your time."
"So, um, hi," she said to Jason's body. "So, we're gonna get you out of here and hopefully somewhere better. How does that sound?"
Did you really just talk to the dead body and expect it to respond? Who are you, Doctor Orpheus?
Kyle returned with a wheelchair. Now it made sense. They couldn't take a gurney down the steps, but a wheelchair would probably be easier to use. Now they just had to set the body in place and they could go. Claire helped lift the body off the ground, internally squirming at touching the corpse, and tried to set it in the chair.
This, it turned out, was a lot harder than Claire thought.
The body was already stiff, and since rigor mortis wasn't going to go away any time soon, they had to figure out the best way to set the body. Eventually, they had to settle on lying the body on top of the armrests. It looked weird, but this was clearly as good as it would get.
Kyle began to push it, leaving Claire to take the bags and shovels. They made their way back to the stairwell. It was time to go.
"Yeah, let's do this. I'll go first, then you move down the steps backwards. That should keep the body from falling off. Take your time."
Kyle took a deep breath as he looked down the stairs. That was a long way to go down backwards. All it would take would be one small slip and then he'd be laying on the ground with his skull cracked open. Maybe that's what she wanted all along...
No. Kyle shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He couldn't think about this now. He just had to concentrate on getting down the stairs.
Just as planned, Claire went first, with Kyle following behind. His heart pounded in his chest as he blindly took each step, trying to balance the wheelchair at the same time. Sweat poured down his head and neck as he forced himself to keep moving, desperately trying not to think about falling.
After what seemed like an eternity, they finally reached the bottom. Kyle leaned against the wall, trying to take deep breaths. One thing was for sure. He was never going to do that again. After he finished his rest, he walked down the rest of the hallway and out of the door.
((Kyle Fitzpatrick continued in Come On, Everypony! Smile, Smile, Smile!))
No. Kyle shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He couldn't think about this now. He just had to concentrate on getting down the stairs.
Just as planned, Claire went first, with Kyle following behind. His heart pounded in his chest as he blindly took each step, trying to balance the wheelchair at the same time. Sweat poured down his head and neck as he forced himself to keep moving, desperately trying not to think about falling.
After what seemed like an eternity, they finally reached the bottom. Kyle leaned against the wall, trying to take deep breaths. One thing was for sure. He was never going to do that again. After he finished his rest, he walked down the rest of the hallway and out of the door.
((Kyle Fitzpatrick continued in Come On, Everypony! Smile, Smile, Smile!))
Claire began to walk down the stairs. She tried to stay close to Kyle as he moved down. He was doing the riskier action by walking backwards with a wheelchair. In case anything went wrong, she'd have to drop the shovels and try to catch him. Such a sequence of events was already storyboarded in Claire's mind, but she wasn't ready to enact it.
Kyle can do this. He's got to have enough control, and I'm sure he can do it. I trust him. Yes, I trust him.
After a few minutes, they were at the bottom of the stairs and ready to go. They just had to get Jason's body to the gurney, and they could make their way to the woods. Kyle looked like he needed a rest, so Claire decided not to pressure him into going immediately. She had to burn off some adrenaline as well.
Fuck, I wish I had some coffee. Wait, that usually gets me even more jittery. Dammit, I won't be enjoying any of my usually pleasures while I'm here. Aaaaaargh.
Once Kyle was ready, Claire followed him out of the hospital. They had a job to do, so now was the time to get busy.
((Claire Monaghan continued in Come on, Everypony! Smile, smile, smile!))
Kyle can do this. He's got to have enough control, and I'm sure he can do it. I trust him. Yes, I trust him.
After a few minutes, they were at the bottom of the stairs and ready to go. They just had to get Jason's body to the gurney, and they could make their way to the woods. Kyle looked like he needed a rest, so Claire decided not to pressure him into going immediately. She had to burn off some adrenaline as well.
Fuck, I wish I had some coffee. Wait, that usually gets me even more jittery. Dammit, I won't be enjoying any of my usually pleasures while I'm here. Aaaaaargh.
Once Kyle was ready, Claire followed him out of the hospital. They had a job to do, so now was the time to get busy.
((Claire Monaghan continued in Come on, Everypony! Smile, smile, smile!))