Kizi was always awful at words of comfort, and at least that hadn't changed. She was still Kizi. Still completely guileless and witless, still in possession of the wisdom and acumen of a dead squid, still completely blind to social graces and proper protocols, yet not so blind that she couldn't see it. She looked down, at the artwork on the floor, perhaps in some vain hope that might inspire a burst of renewed confidence. Art was beautiful, inspirational, a reminder of the goodness in humanity.
And it had been torn and crumpled and vandalised by the terrorists. Just another reminder of how shit they were. Couldn't they at least have cleared the island of personal effects? Returned things home to their families? Allowed them to send a final video message back home? Any one of those simple gestures would have added some humanity to their conduct. Like offering a convicted prisoner a last meal. Still made the fate horrible, didn't relieve them of the burden of the acts of evil they were committing, but made things a bit more palatable.
Nope. Instead, the responsibility of softening the blow, of seeking silver linings, had been left to the kids themselves. And in Kizi's case, it was an act of niceness she wanted to do. Make things a little easier. Reduce the suffering a little bit. But she was unqualified.
She should have kept her mouth shut. She nodded as Jennifer brought up technology. Far more positive. Far more believable. A far more productive line of belief.
But then the bell rung, and Kizi immediately found herself having the wrong idea. She knew it was the wrong idea. Bart's caution was right. She looked down. Bit her lip. Waited a second before speaking. "I think we should." She decided not to elaborate her reasons why. For her sake and for their sake. They were probably grounded in some unspoken pessimism, some defeatist melancholy, that justified even the most illogical of risks. Best not to engage in that.
Little Pig
Start of G055
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General Goose
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Bart was right, or at least Jennifer agreed with him. It could be someone trying to call others over. But for what purpose, it could be any number of things. Someone could be trying to find some allies, or at least someone useful. They could be a killer. She wasn't sure if people were killing already, and she didn't want to know. What if someone could be banking on the idea that someone would come over and investigate? Then they'd... do what was asked.
Of course, if they heard it, other people probably did too. All kinds of people. The naïve, the curious, the scared... and the dangerous. Panicked people and murderous people just wasn't something she wanted to deal with- especially if they had weapons and were potentially in a crowded place.
"No," Jennifer snapped, but recomposed herself. She tried again, her voice quieter. "No. I don't think it's a good idea. If we heard it, others did too. If someone with a gun showed up and wanted to use it, well..."
She continued to wrap her arms around herself in thought.
"It might be good to figure out if we're staying here or heading elsewhere, though."
Of course, if they heard it, other people probably did too. All kinds of people. The naïve, the curious, the scared... and the dangerous. Panicked people and murderous people just wasn't something she wanted to deal with- especially if they had weapons and were potentially in a crowded place.
"No," Jennifer snapped, but recomposed herself. She tried again, her voice quieter. "No. I don't think it's a good idea. If we heard it, others did too. If someone with a gun showed up and wanted to use it, well..."
She continued to wrap her arms around herself in thought.
"It might be good to figure out if we're staying here or heading elsewhere, though."
They had a split decision on their hands. Bart and Jennifer wanted to stay away from the bells, while Kizi wanted to investigate. Bart was absolutely not planning on changing his stance on the issue anytime soon. There was no way of knowing who rang the bell, much less what their plans were. True, there really wasn't any choice they could make that could really be deemed safe, but he would rather not take the risk of walking into what could very well be a trap as far as he knew.
Jennifer had brought up the issue of whether they should stick around the art room or go elsewhere. Just like the previous scenario, Bart had already made up his mind. The scattered, ruined paintings that littered the room were making him immensely uncomfortable, and he wanted to leave, preferably very soon.
"I vote to leave." He called, trying to make sure his voice was heard. "I don't wanna stick around here."
Jennifer had brought up the issue of whether they should stick around the art room or go elsewhere. Just like the previous scenario, Bart had already made up his mind. The scattered, ruined paintings that littered the room were making him immensely uncomfortable, and he wanted to leave, preferably very soon.
"I vote to leave." He called, trying to make sure his voice was heard. "I don't wanna stick around here."
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Kizi seemed to have the minority opinion. Probably for the best, she realised now, with a second's contemplation. It was in all likelihood a trap, done to lure in the gullible, the credulous, the unsuspecting and the naively curious. If anyone was to fall into that category without outside intervention, it would be Kizi. She smiled at both Bart and Jennifer in turn, a tacit admission that yes, perhaps, they were right.
It would definitely be the height of selfishness to try to further convince them to join her on this little suicide mission. They were right, probably. Her internal instincts to follow the sound weren't budging, but hey, hopefully what little logical prowess she did possess would prevail.
She bent down to her bag - ignoring the shotgun - and pulled out the map. "Well, uh, staying here is definitely a bad idea. Because it puts us right in the path of any violent people heading towards the bell tower. That's bad."
It would definitely be the height of selfishness to try to further convince them to join her on this little suicide mission. They were right, probably. Her internal instincts to follow the sound weren't budging, but hey, hopefully what little logical prowess she did possess would prevail.
She bent down to her bag - ignoring the shotgun - and pulled out the map. "Well, uh, staying here is definitely a bad idea. Because it puts us right in the path of any violent people heading towards the bell tower. That's bad."
Alright, so no staying here, then. Jennifer didn't mind that all that much. It wasn't that bad in here, the ransacked and decrepit feel aside. But Bart was clearly starting to get uncomfortable. Maybe it was the room itself, maybe it was the situation. Maybe he didn't like being here, being an artist himself. No matter the reason, he didn't like staying here. That was obvious. It was probably a good idea to get going, anyways. It was okay right now, but later, when it's night time? Colder? Probably not a good idea.
"Right," she said. "We should get going."
Jennifer lifted herself up, soothing out her skirt once more. She still silently cursed her decision to wear a skirt and heels. It might, might, be a good idea to find some better clothes and shoes somehow. But alas, she got another reminder of her decision as her shoes clicked against the floor with each step she took towards the table once again.
"Where should we head to? Ideas?" she asked as she lifted the bag off the table, sliding the strap over her shoulder.
Kiziah had a good point she hadn't realized before. If some degenerate came by to investigate the sound, they were right in the path for that. Again, Jennifer hadn't checked the map much as of yet, but there was a good chance that, if they were nearby, a classmate with murderous intentions could come by and look into the room.
But something else got her attention as Kiziah looked at the map. When Jennifer noticed something nearby the bag, her eyes locked onto it.
She had another question.
"Kiziah," she added. "Did you get a gun?"
She wasn't sure what to think about that.
"Right," she said. "We should get going."
Jennifer lifted herself up, soothing out her skirt once more. She still silently cursed her decision to wear a skirt and heels. It might, might, be a good idea to find some better clothes and shoes somehow. But alas, she got another reminder of her decision as her shoes clicked against the floor with each step she took towards the table once again.
"Where should we head to? Ideas?" she asked as she lifted the bag off the table, sliding the strap over her shoulder.
Kiziah had a good point she hadn't realized before. If some degenerate came by to investigate the sound, they were right in the path for that. Again, Jennifer hadn't checked the map much as of yet, but there was a good chance that, if they were nearby, a classmate with murderous intentions could come by and look into the room.
But something else got her attention as Kiziah looked at the map. When Jennifer noticed something nearby the bag, her eyes locked onto it.
She had another question.
"Kiziah," she added. "Did you get a gun?"
She wasn't sure what to think about that.
Bart opened his bag and searched for his map. If they were going to travel, then they needed a clear destination in mind, or at the very least a general area they wanted to aim for. He pulled it out and finished unfolding it before holding it up and scanning their options. He slowly steadied his breathing. If he wanted to be helpful, or more importantly, survive, then he needed to calm himself down and act rationally.
He studied the map, trying to find a good path for them to take. He glanced over a few areas multiple times before setting his sights on one specific part of the island. He moved the map about an inch closer to his face and his eyes opened a bit more. He had an idea. It might even be a good one.
"So if we want to avoid people heading for the bell tower..." He narrated verbally, broadcasting his thoughts to Kizi and Jennifer in the process. "We'll want to leave quickly, since the asylum is very close to it." he pointed to the area east of the asylum. "There's a whole lot of areas across the bridge that look like they would attract people, so we can probably expect a lot of foot traffic coming from that direction."
Bart raised his head and turned his map around so the girls could see it. "But there aren't a lot of high-traffic areas to the south, see?" He directed his finger to the area of the map that he was referring to. "If we want to stay away from people, then the best way to do that is by going where there probably won't be many people to run into, right?"
He moved his map so both of the girls could see it. He hoped that he had managed to make a good point somewhere along his train of logic. However, in his zeal to explain his idea, he hadn't noticed Jennifer's attention falling to Kizi's bag. Bart's eyebrows drooped as he surveyed the increasingly tense scene.
"Hey, is everything all right?"
He studied the map, trying to find a good path for them to take. He glanced over a few areas multiple times before setting his sights on one specific part of the island. He moved the map about an inch closer to his face and his eyes opened a bit more. He had an idea. It might even be a good one.
"So if we want to avoid people heading for the bell tower..." He narrated verbally, broadcasting his thoughts to Kizi and Jennifer in the process. "We'll want to leave quickly, since the asylum is very close to it." he pointed to the area east of the asylum. "There's a whole lot of areas across the bridge that look like they would attract people, so we can probably expect a lot of foot traffic coming from that direction."
Bart raised his head and turned his map around so the girls could see it. "But there aren't a lot of high-traffic areas to the south, see?" He directed his finger to the area of the map that he was referring to. "If we want to stay away from people, then the best way to do that is by going where there probably won't be many people to run into, right?"
He moved his map so both of the girls could see it. He hoped that he had managed to make a good point somewhere along his train of logic. However, in his zeal to explain his idea, he hadn't noticed Jennifer's attention falling to Kizi's bag. Bart's eyebrows drooped as he surveyed the increasingly tense scene.
"Hey, is everything all right?"
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General Goose
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Well, it was set. They would move onwards. To somewhere. Kizi really didn't know what to say. She didn't want to exactly impose her preferences - as petty as they were, being merely desires for relative shelter and some chance of accessing indoor plumbing - on the others. They would likely have more strategic considerations in mind. Smarter choices. Cleverer options. She didn't want to undermine them.
And Bart's own suggestion proved that. She would have headed for the bridge, just like she would have headed for the bell tower. She really was out of her depth here. It was common sense, in hindsight. Just the most...basic thinking, the most rudimentary logic. She was doomed.
And then Jennifer had spotted a pretty concrete reminder of that fact.
Kizi would likely have forgotten the gun otherwise, had Jennifer not so accusatorily brought it into the public domain. Out of sight, out of mind, what you don't know won't hurt you, all of those old adages and idioms. Probably not the best sorts of philosophies to guide someone in this sort of setting, of course, but it was a smidgen smarter than relying on her own intuition. They must have become popular for a reason. Better to live by ill-fitting rules than trying to use her own instincts, as ill-attuned and poorly-honed for a terrorist attack as they were.
"Yes, I think I got rolled a gun," Kizi continued, unable to see how this could be anything other than a bad thing. A pretty decisive reason not to trust her. "Sorry. I'm really sorry." Her voice quivered, and even she was unsure if she was apologising for her assigned weapon or her accidental secrecy.
And Bart's own suggestion proved that. She would have headed for the bridge, just like she would have headed for the bell tower. She really was out of her depth here. It was common sense, in hindsight. Just the most...basic thinking, the most rudimentary logic. She was doomed.
And then Jennifer had spotted a pretty concrete reminder of that fact.
Kizi would likely have forgotten the gun otherwise, had Jennifer not so accusatorily brought it into the public domain. Out of sight, out of mind, what you don't know won't hurt you, all of those old adages and idioms. Probably not the best sorts of philosophies to guide someone in this sort of setting, of course, but it was a smidgen smarter than relying on her own intuition. They must have become popular for a reason. Better to live by ill-fitting rules than trying to use her own instincts, as ill-attuned and poorly-honed for a terrorist attack as they were.
"Yes, I think I got rolled a gun," Kizi continued, unable to see how this could be anything other than a bad thing. A pretty decisive reason not to trust her. "Sorry. I'm really sorry." Her voice quivered, and even she was unsure if she was apologising for her assigned weapon or her accidental secrecy.
Suddenly, the room got tense. Bart asked if everything was alright. Kiziah even apologized. What for? Perhaps because she didn't feel it fit to bring it up? That's a possibility.
"Oh, no need," Jennifer said, slightly leaning forward to get another look. "I thought I'd ask because, well, it's good to figure out what supplies we've got to work with, right?"
She leaned back up. A shotgun could be useful. It wasn't like they were going to actually kill anyone, obviously. But you could use it to scare someone away with the sound, provided you pointed it away from them as much as possible. You could hunt animals, too, but she wasn't sure if Kiziah or Bart knew anything about hunting. Also, what kind of animals they could hunt was a factor too.
"Full disclosure: about roughly three feet of chain. Not sure if it can be useful right now, but that's what they gave me, so..."
Okay, back on subject.
"Anyways, Bart's idea is sound. Head southwards, and we're less likely to encounter anyone who'd investigate the sound. Any ideas on safe spaces to hole up?"
"Oh, no need," Jennifer said, slightly leaning forward to get another look. "I thought I'd ask because, well, it's good to figure out what supplies we've got to work with, right?"
She leaned back up. A shotgun could be useful. It wasn't like they were going to actually kill anyone, obviously. But you could use it to scare someone away with the sound, provided you pointed it away from them as much as possible. You could hunt animals, too, but she wasn't sure if Kiziah or Bart knew anything about hunting. Also, what kind of animals they could hunt was a factor too.
"Full disclosure: about roughly three feet of chain. Not sure if it can be useful right now, but that's what they gave me, so..."
Okay, back on subject.
"Anyways, Bart's idea is sound. Head southwards, and we're less likely to encounter anyone who'd investigate the sound. Any ideas on safe spaces to hole up?"
Oh, they were discussing their weapons. That seemed pretty reasonable. Kizi had a gun, which was... admittedly intimidating, but it provided some sort of comfort to know that one of them had some capability to defend the others if a problem arose. Jennifer's chain was a bit out of the ordinary, but Bart figured that it could have some practical use. But even if the chain couldn't be used to fight, both of the girls had still had far better luck than he did.
"Um, I don't think that I'm gonna be so useful in that regard." He said, slightly downtrodden. "All I got was a book. It's not that thick, and it's paperback. It doesn't even look like it would be a good read, to be honest..."
Wait, he was getting off topic. They needed to figure out where they needed to go. Jennifer had even said so. Bart checked out his map once more to get a better look at their options. The relative lack of locations to the south made this task much quicker than his previous scanning o the whole map, so he took little time before reporting his findings.
"There's a crematorium not too far from here." He pointed out both figuratively and literally. "It's off to the east while the bell tower is to the west, so there probably won't see to many people going there." He moved his hand further down the map. "There's also a supply depot, but it's at the far southern part of the island, and there's not a whole lot between here and there. Probably not too many people, but it'll be a real long walk."
He folded his map and looked up. "So which way do you want to go?"
"Um, I don't think that I'm gonna be so useful in that regard." He said, slightly downtrodden. "All I got was a book. It's not that thick, and it's paperback. It doesn't even look like it would be a good read, to be honest..."
Wait, he was getting off topic. They needed to figure out where they needed to go. Jennifer had even said so. Bart checked out his map once more to get a better look at their options. The relative lack of locations to the south made this task much quicker than his previous scanning o the whole map, so he took little time before reporting his findings.
"There's a crematorium not too far from here." He pointed out both figuratively and literally. "It's off to the east while the bell tower is to the west, so there probably won't see to many people going there." He moved his hand further down the map. "There's also a supply depot, but it's at the far southern part of the island, and there's not a whole lot between here and there. Probably not too many people, but it'll be a real long walk."
He folded his map and looked up. "So which way do you want to go?"
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General Goose
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Kiziah did not know why she had apologised. Had to stop herself from apologising for the apology. That was an unhelpful instinct.
And what had she done? Received a shotgun in the rolls. It was a stupid thing to apologise for, really. The luck of the draw, that's what it was. Outside forces, nothing she could be morally culpable for. And better the shotguns owned by those who were relatively peaceful and amicable than those students who would resort to violence - not that Kizi could imagine any of her classmates doing so.
"If one of you guys want the gun, that may be smart." She dropped the idea into the discussion before she could ponder the implications and risks of such a move. Probably deliberate, on an unconscious level. She would be useless with it. And not being useless with it? Actually having to use it? That was a burden that, perhaps selfishly, Kizi did not want to face.
"I think supply depot." She added her input to the conversation about directions with surprising certainty, a rather curt lack of ambivalence or equivocal hesitation. "The crematorium...well, would be a bit grim."
And what had she done? Received a shotgun in the rolls. It was a stupid thing to apologise for, really. The luck of the draw, that's what it was. Outside forces, nothing she could be morally culpable for. And better the shotguns owned by those who were relatively peaceful and amicable than those students who would resort to violence - not that Kizi could imagine any of her classmates doing so.
"If one of you guys want the gun, that may be smart." She dropped the idea into the discussion before she could ponder the implications and risks of such a move. Probably deliberate, on an unconscious level. She would be useless with it. And not being useless with it? Actually having to use it? That was a burden that, perhaps selfishly, Kizi did not want to face.
"I think supply depot." She added her input to the conversation about directions with surprising certainty, a rather curt lack of ambivalence or equivocal hesitation. "The crematorium...well, would be a bit grim."
A book? Weren't they supposed to be weapons? How was a book going to kill someone? Unless it was a hardcover, or was about murder methods. Then again, she remembered a detail that came up when she was doing research for her blog. Sometimes, abductees were given purposefully awful "weapons", as if some part of a sick joke. Jennifer shook her head at the thought. There was a special place in hell for them, if they not only were responsible for the deaths of hundreds, but thought it would be something to poke fun at.
"I agree with the supply depot. As the name suggests, there might be things left behind. Some might even be in good condition."
Jennifer looked down at her shoes for a split second, then looked up.
"Also, I'll need better shoes at some point," she added.
Heels could only get her so far.
"I don't think I need the gun, but if it makes you feel more at ease, I could hold on to it?" she said.
"I agree with the supply depot. As the name suggests, there might be things left behind. Some might even be in good condition."
Jennifer looked down at her shoes for a split second, then looked up.
"Also, I'll need better shoes at some point," she added.
Heels could only get her so far.
"I don't think I need the gun, but if it makes you feel more at ease, I could hold on to it?" she said.
Bart gave a thumbs-up to the girls while he returned his map to his pack. "All right, so, um... I guess we've got a plan now. That's good, right?" With a quick zip, his map was safe and sound once again.
Jennifer and Kizi moved onto the topic of what they should do with Kizi's gun. Pretty reasonable, since that was going to be their main source of protection until further notice. Bart didn't really feel like be belonged in this particular part of the conversation. Outside of the realm of video games, he had absolutely no knowledge of guns, and he certainly didn't know how to handle them. He doubted that Jennifer or Kizi had much more experience with them either, but he felt that they would probably be able to pick it up quicker than he would. Outside of art and writing, he had never really had many other skills.
"Okay, so, um..." Bart followed Jennifer's previous statement. "I think I'm gonna check outside to see if, y'know, everything's clear? So once you know what you're doing with the gun we can, uh... head out, right?" He jabbed a thumb in the direction of the doorway before walking out slowly, hoping that the girls wouldn't abandon him once he was out of sight.
He had a direct line of sight towards the asylum door. He knew that attempting stealth would be more than likely pointless thanks to his condition, but that didn't stop him from softly stepping towards it, sticking close to the wall like a character in some old spy movie. He didn't see anyone nearby, and he couldn't hear anything that suggested it either. From a brief glance, everything looked good. He took a few steps back towards the door and cupped a hand around his mouth, trying to catch the girls' attention.
"A-all clear, I think..."
He looked back at the asylum door. He hadn't set foot outside of the building since waking up, and now he was about to face the world outside.
He hoped that everything would somehow turn out okay.
((Bart Cappotelli continued elsewhere...))
Jennifer and Kizi moved onto the topic of what they should do with Kizi's gun. Pretty reasonable, since that was going to be their main source of protection until further notice. Bart didn't really feel like be belonged in this particular part of the conversation. Outside of the realm of video games, he had absolutely no knowledge of guns, and he certainly didn't know how to handle them. He doubted that Jennifer or Kizi had much more experience with them either, but he felt that they would probably be able to pick it up quicker than he would. Outside of art and writing, he had never really had many other skills.
"Okay, so, um..." Bart followed Jennifer's previous statement. "I think I'm gonna check outside to see if, y'know, everything's clear? So once you know what you're doing with the gun we can, uh... head out, right?" He jabbed a thumb in the direction of the doorway before walking out slowly, hoping that the girls wouldn't abandon him once he was out of sight.
He had a direct line of sight towards the asylum door. He knew that attempting stealth would be more than likely pointless thanks to his condition, but that didn't stop him from softly stepping towards it, sticking close to the wall like a character in some old spy movie. He didn't see anyone nearby, and he couldn't hear anything that suggested it either. From a brief glance, everything looked good. He took a few steps back towards the door and cupped a hand around his mouth, trying to catch the girls' attention.
"A-all clear, I think..."
He looked back at the asylum door. He hadn't set foot outside of the building since waking up, and now he was about to face the world outside.
He hoped that everything would somehow turn out okay.
((Bart Cappotelli continued elsewhere...))
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Well, they were moving.
A part of her remained hopeful. A futile hope, maybe, but Kizi shook her head, dispersed that pang of fatalistic logic. She would take every opportunity for a spot of hope whenever it arrived. And as they left this room, maybe the environment would change from discarded artwork and crumbling architecture into something more mundane. The revelation of it all being a cruel prank, or the promising sight of a helicopter in the distance.
But that would have to wait.
Kizi smiled, a friendly smile, a smile of trust and loyalty, conveying understanding and agreement, rather than a smile of satisfaction. She bent down, to gather up her things. Looked at the shotgun, surprised she hadn't forgotten it. She hoped someone else would carry it.
She picked it up, with a grunt. It was heavy.
Followed Bart.
((Kiziah Saraki continued in So, so tired....))
A part of her remained hopeful. A futile hope, maybe, but Kizi shook her head, dispersed that pang of fatalistic logic. She would take every opportunity for a spot of hope whenever it arrived. And as they left this room, maybe the environment would change from discarded artwork and crumbling architecture into something more mundane. The revelation of it all being a cruel prank, or the promising sight of a helicopter in the distance.
But that would have to wait.
Kizi smiled, a friendly smile, a smile of trust and loyalty, conveying understanding and agreement, rather than a smile of satisfaction. She bent down, to gather up her things. Looked at the shotgun, surprised she hadn't forgotten it. She hoped someone else would carry it.
She picked it up, with a grunt. It was heavy.
Followed Bart.
((Kiziah Saraki continued in So, so tired....))
Bart spoke up again, saying he was going to look outside to see if the coast was clear. About half a minute later, he came back, saying the coast was clear. Jennifer let out a puff of air. She didn't even know she was holding her breath.
"Alright," she said, gently patting her pack to remind herself she still had it.
She realized Kiziah hadn't replied to her inquiry. Maybe she felt safer with the gun, after all, or that she didn't like the idea of someone else handling it. Either way, Jennifer felt like she shouldn't probe further. It was polite, and it would make things more comfortable.
As she followed the other two out, Jennifer noticed the manual, still laying on the ground next to an easel. After a moment of hesitancy, she slowly reached down to pick it up. She placed it into her bag, and zipped up again.
She still hoped some boats, some helicopters- anything- would come by.
((Jennifer Wallace continued elsewhere))
"Alright," she said, gently patting her pack to remind herself she still had it.
She realized Kiziah hadn't replied to her inquiry. Maybe she felt safer with the gun, after all, or that she didn't like the idea of someone else handling it. Either way, Jennifer felt like she shouldn't probe further. It was polite, and it would make things more comfortable.
As she followed the other two out, Jennifer noticed the manual, still laying on the ground next to an easel. After a moment of hesitancy, she slowly reached down to pick it up. She placed it into her bag, and zipped up again.
She still hoped some boats, some helicopters- anything- would come by.
((Jennifer Wallace continued elsewhere))