A voice cut through the panic.
That was Emma. Lily couldn't see her, couldn't turn to see her, but that was definitely Emma. Lily's first thought, drifting through the mix of disorientation and sheer terror, was 'oh no, she's going to want to know what happened to Lizzie.' Then the rest of her brain caught up.
"He's... Em, he's still... he's..."
Lily tried to move her arms to gesture at where she'd last heard Jae from. Who knew if he was still there, who knew what he was doing, was he pointing his crossbow at her now? She couldn't tell, all she could see was concrete, walls and her own blood.
She tried to speak, to warn Emma like she hadn't warned Tina, like she hadn't helped Lizzie, and once again she could do nothing. Her attempts came out spluttered and wheezy. Fear clasped her throat tight and didn't let go.
Rear-End Collision
(Private)
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ViolentMedic
- Posts: 813
- Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2018 7:53 am
Oh, hi Emma.
Jae caught her movement from the corner of his eye, among the flickering static. And, you know, if there was ever a time that you really didn't want to have to explain yourself to the class president, it was right after you had shot her family member in cold blood.
Jae absorbed the scene of Emma kneeling over Lily - she still wasn't dead, why couldn't she die faster - for just a moment, and then he slithered along the wall back the way he had come, back into the room where he had left his bag and the staff underneath the bed.
Back under the bed you go, boogeyman.
Jae caught her movement from the corner of his eye, among the flickering static. And, you know, if there was ever a time that you really didn't want to have to explain yourself to the class president, it was right after you had shot her family member in cold blood.
Jae absorbed the scene of Emma kneeling over Lily - she still wasn't dead, why couldn't she die faster - for just a moment, and then he slithered along the wall back the way he had come, back into the room where he had left his bag and the staff underneath the bed.
Back under the bed you go, boogeyman.
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
"Lily, Lily!"
Emma fell to her knees. Despite the heart pounding in her chest, she leaned in to take a closer look. It looked like the crossbow bolt was lodged into her spine. That wasn't good. It could mean paralysis, or blood loss, if she didn't act quickly. The bolt seemed to be stuck in deeply. It wasn't a good idea to remove it. If she did, it would cause more blood loss. Instead, it was better to break off what she could, to make sure Lily wasn't losing blood, and to disinfect it.
Emma realized that her own pack had been slung over her shoulder. She didn't think. Instead, she unzipped it, and found the tin case in a heartbeat.
First things first. She needed to stop the bleeding. Otherwise Lily would bleed out. Dryness filled her mouth as she opened the case. There were some dressings, something she could use to put pressure on the area. Emma had to be careful not to disturb the bolt.
Her heart pounded further as she put on the plastic gloves, and picked up the dressing. But, Lily was trying to say something. She moved.
"L-lily, is he still here? Who did this?"
Emma had looked up, only to see a shape disappear into one of the rooms.
Emma fell to her knees. Despite the heart pounding in her chest, she leaned in to take a closer look. It looked like the crossbow bolt was lodged into her spine. That wasn't good. It could mean paralysis, or blood loss, if she didn't act quickly. The bolt seemed to be stuck in deeply. It wasn't a good idea to remove it. If she did, it would cause more blood loss. Instead, it was better to break off what she could, to make sure Lily wasn't losing blood, and to disinfect it.
Emma realized that her own pack had been slung over her shoulder. She didn't think. Instead, she unzipped it, and found the tin case in a heartbeat.
First things first. She needed to stop the bleeding. Otherwise Lily would bleed out. Dryness filled her mouth as she opened the case. There were some dressings, something she could use to put pressure on the area. Emma had to be careful not to disturb the bolt.
Her heart pounded further as she put on the plastic gloves, and picked up the dressing. But, Lily was trying to say something. She moved.
"L-lily, is he still here? Who did this?"
Emma had looked up, only to see a shape disappear into one of the rooms.
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ViolentMedic
- Posts: 813
- Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2018 7:53 am
Lily couldn't feel the hands touching her, but she could hear Emma talking to her. Hear how close she was. See just enough of the first-aid container out of the corner of her eye. Emma was trying to fix her. Even after all she'd done, even though she had to know about Lizzie... Emma was still trying to save her. But Emma wasn't a surgeon, she couldn't fix a shattered spine. Lily didn't know if anyone could.
"Nn... Em, stop... don't... just..."
Even if, by some bizarre miracle, she survived... if every other kid on the island suffered a heart attack, or if they just left her on the floor and she quietly lived there until everyone else had killed themselves... then she'd be left to a lifetime of this. Just on a bed. With her parents being even more overprotective and smothering than they'd been before. Without being able to even read a book unless someone was there to turn the pages. Any dreams of being a mechanic were gone, let alone giving horse-riding another try.
She didn't want to die.
But she didn't want to live like this, either.
Jae had done what she'd done to Lizzie. Done a shallow wound and left her to die slowly. Lily hated him for it, she hated him so much. And she hated herself even more for doing this herself, and in turn that made her hate Jae all the more.
Was he still there? She couldn't tell.
"Jh... Jae, you..." She tried to make her throat work, tried to breathe enough to talk properly. It was hard. It was so hard. Tears and snot were leaking sideways and puddling on the floor next to her face. She managed to raise her voice just enough for it to carry, though effort was audible in every syllable. "Y-you fucking coward, come back a-and... and..." Lily's voice cracked, and she let out a rasped breath before begging, "Don't... don't leave me like this..."
"Nn... Em, stop... don't... just..."
Even if, by some bizarre miracle, she survived... if every other kid on the island suffered a heart attack, or if they just left her on the floor and she quietly lived there until everyone else had killed themselves... then she'd be left to a lifetime of this. Just on a bed. With her parents being even more overprotective and smothering than they'd been before. Without being able to even read a book unless someone was there to turn the pages. Any dreams of being a mechanic were gone, let alone giving horse-riding another try.
She didn't want to die.
But she didn't want to live like this, either.
Jae had done what she'd done to Lizzie. Done a shallow wound and left her to die slowly. Lily hated him for it, she hated him so much. And she hated herself even more for doing this herself, and in turn that made her hate Jae all the more.
Was he still there? She couldn't tell.
"Jh... Jae, you..." She tried to make her throat work, tried to breathe enough to talk properly. It was hard. It was so hard. Tears and snot were leaking sideways and puddling on the floor next to her face. She managed to raise her voice just enough for it to carry, though effort was audible in every syllable. "Y-you fucking coward, come back a-and... and..." Lily's voice cracked, and she let out a rasped breath before begging, "Don't... don't leave me like this..."
Lily was still calling to him. Who the hell was she to call him coward even if it was true, hiding in a killer's shadow like she had? Why couldn't she just die quickly?
Jae pressed himself as far back under the bed as he could go, flattening his back against the wall. He should reload the crossbow. Emma might try to kill him for what he had done to Lily, and he couldn't die just yet no matter how little he deserved to live.
He didn't want to shoot Emma. She had never done anything to him, had always been sort of pitiable and sort of admirable, one overshadowing the other depending on what was going on. It was hard to imagine her turning violent, but Jae's first moments here had shown him that his imagination was severely lacking when it came to what people he knew were capable of. There was an irony in that, probably.
Jae screwed his eyes shut and kept a tight grip on the empty crossbow, straining his ears for the noises that would signal Emma's approach under Lily's dying gasps.
Jae pressed himself as far back under the bed as he could go, flattening his back against the wall. He should reload the crossbow. Emma might try to kill him for what he had done to Lily, and he couldn't die just yet no matter how little he deserved to live.
He didn't want to shoot Emma. She had never done anything to him, had always been sort of pitiable and sort of admirable, one overshadowing the other depending on what was going on. It was hard to imagine her turning violent, but Jae's first moments here had shown him that his imagination was severely lacking when it came to what people he knew were capable of. There was an irony in that, probably.
Jae screwed his eyes shut and kept a tight grip on the empty crossbow, straining his ears for the noises that would signal Emma's approach under Lily's dying gasps.
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
Emma looked in the direction the shape went for a few seconds. Then, her eyes snapped back to Lily. Someone was still here. That someone could have been the one to hurt Lily. Was that what Lily was trying to say? That it wasn't safe?
Lily wanted her to stop, but she couldn't. Emma had to do something. The sooner she acted, the sooner she'd be alive. She didn't know if Lily was suicidal, if she wanted her to run so the person who shot her wouldn't kill her as well, or what. But she knew that something had to be done. She could take Lily into one of the rooms, to make sure that they were in a safer spot. She could continue first aid, and hope the person wasn't coming back. She could make sure Lily's last moments were-
No, no. She couldn't die. She just couldn't. Emma didn't want that. She didn't know what she'd do if she did.
Emma's shaking hand reached to press the gauze against the wound. She'd try to be careful, since the bolt was still inside. If Lily died... if Lily didn't make it...
Please make it.
Please please.
Emma's eyes widened. Jae. That was who did this. The name rang a bell, but Emma didn't try to remember who that was right now. Or maybe Jae wasn't who shot her, but he was here. She didn't know. All she knew was that Lily was clearly in pain.
"Lily, Lily" her voice grew urgent. "I'm here, okay? We're going to make it, I promise. I swear to god, I-"
She wasn't sure if it was a promise she could keep at this rate.
Lily wanted her to stop, but she couldn't. Emma had to do something. The sooner she acted, the sooner she'd be alive. She didn't know if Lily was suicidal, if she wanted her to run so the person who shot her wouldn't kill her as well, or what. But she knew that something had to be done. She could take Lily into one of the rooms, to make sure that they were in a safer spot. She could continue first aid, and hope the person wasn't coming back. She could make sure Lily's last moments were-
No, no. She couldn't die. She just couldn't. Emma didn't want that. She didn't know what she'd do if she did.
Emma's shaking hand reached to press the gauze against the wound. She'd try to be careful, since the bolt was still inside. If Lily died... if Lily didn't make it...
Please make it.
Please please.
Emma's eyes widened. Jae. That was who did this. The name rang a bell, but Emma didn't try to remember who that was right now. Or maybe Jae wasn't who shot her, but he was here. She didn't know. All she knew was that Lily was clearly in pain.
"Lily, Lily" her voice grew urgent. "I'm here, okay? We're going to make it, I promise. I swear to god, I-"
She wasn't sure if it was a promise she could keep at this rate.
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ViolentMedic
- Posts: 813
- Joined: Fri Aug 17, 2018 7:53 am
Jae, whether he was there or not, didn't listen to her. Of course he didn't. She wouldn't have if she'd been him.
Em was still helping her. Telling her they were going to make it. Emma couldn't really be that stupid. Lily tried to tell her. Tried to tell her the thoughts, about how useless this was, how useless Lily was, how useless she'd continue to be.
It didn't work. All that came out was a strangled, distressed noise. Speech was gone. A quality she'd used too little off-island, and perhaps too often on it.
But what did speech matter? What could she have used it for? Apologizing? Pleading for Emma to understand why she let Tina die, why she tried to slash Lizzie's throat? No. What did forgiveness matter now, even if she deserved it? No, she just wanted a quick end. Before she lost all dignity.
No-one was listening to her. No-one would listen to a speck.
Emma, she was ignoring—either willfully or simply through ignorance—that Lily didn't want to make it anymore. And Jae was like her. Jae was a coward. The only person who could put Lily out of her misery was herself, and those facilities had been removed.
Lily did try. In between the rise of wheezy, panicked breaths she started gnawing on the inside of her cheek, biting down on her tongue. Trying to flood her mouth with enough blood to choke on. It didn't work. All she ended up with was blood leaking out of her mouth and mixing with the tears and snot still puddling under her face.
Lily eventually did die, her facilities dropping off one by one. But it took a long time. By the time it was over, by the time her thoughts blissfully faded and her heart slowed to a stop, there was no shred of dignity left.
G002 - Lillian 'Lily' Caldwell: Deceased
Em was still helping her. Telling her they were going to make it. Emma couldn't really be that stupid. Lily tried to tell her. Tried to tell her the thoughts, about how useless this was, how useless Lily was, how useless she'd continue to be.
It didn't work. All that came out was a strangled, distressed noise. Speech was gone. A quality she'd used too little off-island, and perhaps too often on it.
But what did speech matter? What could she have used it for? Apologizing? Pleading for Emma to understand why she let Tina die, why she tried to slash Lizzie's throat? No. What did forgiveness matter now, even if she deserved it? No, she just wanted a quick end. Before she lost all dignity.
No-one was listening to her. No-one would listen to a speck.
Emma, she was ignoring—either willfully or simply through ignorance—that Lily didn't want to make it anymore. And Jae was like her. Jae was a coward. The only person who could put Lily out of her misery was herself, and those facilities had been removed.
Lily did try. In between the rise of wheezy, panicked breaths she started gnawing on the inside of her cheek, biting down on her tongue. Trying to flood her mouth with enough blood to choke on. It didn't work. All she ended up with was blood leaking out of her mouth and mixing with the tears and snot still puddling under her face.
Lily eventually did die, her facilities dropping off one by one. But it took a long time. By the time it was over, by the time her thoughts blissfully faded and her heart slowed to a stop, there was no shred of dignity left.
G002 - Lillian 'Lily' Caldwell: Deceased
How much ammo did he have left? He had started with nineteen bolts. Three for Isabel. One for Brendan. One for Nadia. One for Lily. Thirteen left. Enough to last him however much longer he was here.
Jae kept his eyes closed, mouthing the numbers as he counted down over and over. Nineteen-sixteen-fifteen-fourteen-thirteen. His breathing gradually steadied, though he was still trembling all over as though seized by cold.
...Lily eventually stopped calling for him.
Jae opened his eyes again, trying to squeeze further back against the wall if possible. Maybe Emma would just leave. Maybe she hadn't seen him come in here. All the bolts were in his bag; he couldn't reload without making noise. Emma wasn't on his list.
But he had made his bed and now he had to lie in it. Under it, whatever. The shadow of a hysterical giggle tried to bubble up in his throat and he bit down on his lower lip to suppress it.
Jae kept his eyes closed, mouthing the numbers as he counted down over and over. Nineteen-sixteen-fifteen-fourteen-thirteen. His breathing gradually steadied, though he was still trembling all over as though seized by cold.
...Lily eventually stopped calling for him.
Jae opened his eyes again, trying to squeeze further back against the wall if possible. Maybe Emma would just leave. Maybe she hadn't seen him come in here. All the bolts were in his bag; he couldn't reload without making noise. Emma wasn't on his list.
But he had made his bed and now he had to lie in it. Under it, whatever. The shadow of a hysterical giggle tried to bubble up in his throat and he bit down on his lower lip to suppress it.
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
As Emma tried to stop the bleeding, she noticed that Lily felt cold and clammy. She was also growing more pale, and her breath was quick. That wasn't a good sign. Hemorrhagic shock, probably. Lily was losing so much blood, it was almost guaranteed to be lethal if she didn't get professional help. But no professionals were here. Emma had to keep trying, though. She just had to. She moved one hand to Lily's wrist to check her heart rate. It was fast, too fast. She wasn't able to talk anymore, either.
In the back of her mind, Emma knew what would have been done with shock at home. She'd do roughly what she was doing now. If possible, she'd put Lily on her back, and make sure she's warm and that her feet were elevated. Emma would have someone call 911, then continue to apply pressure and make sure she was breathing okay. Once she was in the hospital, they'd begin treatment. Blood transfusion was a common way to treat that symptom professionally.
But there was no way someone could get a blood transfusion here. There just... wasn't.
At some point, she didn't know when, Emma noticed that Lily's heart rate was slowing during another check. But it wasn't at a healthy rate. It was slow and weak, a worse sign. Sometime later, it stopped entirely. It didn't pick back up.
Emma realized that Lily had died underneath her hands.
Slowly, she slid her hands away. Emma was still aware of the plastic gloves, still slick from a bit of blood that had gotten on them. For a moment, it seemed still and blank. She hadn't saved her in time. She was too late.
Emma just sat there, in front of Lily. Then, her shoulders shook. Emma's own breathing started getting choked. That's when she started sobbing.
It wasn't fair. It just... wasn't.
She didn't try to be quiet. Somewhere, she knew that someone was going to investigate the noise. But she kept going.
She felt dizzy. One by one, her muscles went numb and weak. Emma's limbs grew limp.
Her body slid to the floor. The concrete felt cold underneath her. The only thing she was grateful for was that the way she fell; she wasn't staring directly at Lily.
In the back of her mind, Emma knew what would have been done with shock at home. She'd do roughly what she was doing now. If possible, she'd put Lily on her back, and make sure she's warm and that her feet were elevated. Emma would have someone call 911, then continue to apply pressure and make sure she was breathing okay. Once she was in the hospital, they'd begin treatment. Blood transfusion was a common way to treat that symptom professionally.
But there was no way someone could get a blood transfusion here. There just... wasn't.
At some point, she didn't know when, Emma noticed that Lily's heart rate was slowing during another check. But it wasn't at a healthy rate. It was slow and weak, a worse sign. Sometime later, it stopped entirely. It didn't pick back up.
Emma realized that Lily had died underneath her hands.
Slowly, she slid her hands away. Emma was still aware of the plastic gloves, still slick from a bit of blood that had gotten on them. For a moment, it seemed still and blank. She hadn't saved her in time. She was too late.
Emma just sat there, in front of Lily. Then, her shoulders shook. Emma's own breathing started getting choked. That's when she started sobbing.
It wasn't fair. It just... wasn't.
She didn't try to be quiet. Somewhere, she knew that someone was going to investigate the noise. But she kept going.
She felt dizzy. One by one, her muscles went numb and weak. Emma's limbs grew limp.
Her body slid to the floor. The concrete felt cold underneath her. The only thing she was grateful for was that the way she fell; she wasn't staring directly at Lily.
In the silence left after Lily stopped calling out, Emma's sobbing told Jae everything he needed to know.
There it was, then. The consequences of his snap decision, born out of anger and frustration and despair. With Samuel and Nadia, there had been at least a few moments where Jae had been afraid for his life, where he had felt like he was reacting in self-defense rather than lashing out. Lily hadn't been like that. She knew it, he supposed. She had realized that other people wouldn't take her seriously as a threat, looking like a little kid and with no real weapon. That was why she had chosen to play lackey to Isabel.
Jae doubted that Emma would care all that much. Even with Lily's name attached to Lizzie's death, Emma had still tried to save her. His reasons didn't matter; all that mattered was that he had pulled the trigger.
She was still out in the hall. Jae wanted to cover his ears again, but he couldn't let go of the crossbow, couldn't move without risking noise that would alert Emma to where he was. His teeth were still digging into his lip. He tasted blood.
Just leave, every fiber of his being begged her. Please.
There it was, then. The consequences of his snap decision, born out of anger and frustration and despair. With Samuel and Nadia, there had been at least a few moments where Jae had been afraid for his life, where he had felt like he was reacting in self-defense rather than lashing out. Lily hadn't been like that. She knew it, he supposed. She had realized that other people wouldn't take her seriously as a threat, looking like a little kid and with no real weapon. That was why she had chosen to play lackey to Isabel.
Jae doubted that Emma would care all that much. Even with Lily's name attached to Lizzie's death, Emma had still tried to save her. His reasons didn't matter; all that mattered was that he had pulled the trigger.
She was still out in the hall. Jae wanted to cover his ears again, but he couldn't let go of the crossbow, couldn't move without risking noise that would alert Emma to where he was. His teeth were still digging into his lip. He tasted blood.
Just leave, every fiber of his being begged her. Please.
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
Emma just laid there, her limbs splayed out like a dropped doll. She couldn't move. Whether she wanted to, that was another story. The smell of blood- Lily's blood- still hung in the air. Emma's heart still pounded, her breath still gasped faster and faster. She didn't want to move, and yet, she wanted to. Knew she had to.
Her fingers tried to twitch, to break out of her numbness. For what felt like both years and minutes, nothing budged. Then, sensation came back. Her fingers moved. Then, her wrists. Feeling and mobility crept up her arms, then her legs. Emma slowly moved an arm, then pushed against the ground. It took a few tries, but what had to be the fifth did it. Shaking, Emma pulled herself up to her hands and knees. For a moment, she slipped, almost landing back onto her stomach again.
Still weak.
Despite knowing better, her head turned.
Lily was still very still. Very... gone.
Emma elbows slightly buckled underneath her at the sight. She'd failed. She'd... she'd lost someone else. It wasn't fair. It wasn't. Emma kept breathing louder and louder. She didn't want to look anymore. But she didn't know what to do, or anything. What could she do?
A few more tries, this time at standing. Her legs felt limp, like cooked noodles. Each time she tried to push herself up, they only refused to cooperate. One more try. She had to stand. She had to. Both feet on the ground, slide upwards. Slow... slow...
Eventually, she could do it. Her legs still wobbled underneath her as she stood, but she was okay.
Lily wasn't, though.
Emma looked down at her gloved hands, still shaking and covered in blood. The memory of what happened was fresh. She couldn't save Lily. She didn't even think it would have been possible at that point, or even the right thing to try.
Emma looked around her. Everything seemed still, too still. Like there wouldn't be anything else after this. But her eye landed on one of the rooms. Distantly, she remembered that a shape had ran in that direction. Was it a good idea? To step closer that way?
Despite common sense telling her not to, she looked at Lily again. For a moment, Emma wondered if it was a good idea to pick up the sword. She still wasn't feeling well. But it was something. Something to... give her a way to defend herself.
Was she really thinking like that?
She looked back. Hesitantly, she stepped forward. It didn't seem like they'd gone far, if it was another room. Her legs still felt weak and numb. But despite better judgement, despite everything telling her not to, she had to.
"Hello?"
Her voice slightly echoed. It was slightly louder than she realized.
She stepped closer, further into the room.
Despite knowing it wasn't a good idea.
Her fingers tried to twitch, to break out of her numbness. For what felt like both years and minutes, nothing budged. Then, sensation came back. Her fingers moved. Then, her wrists. Feeling and mobility crept up her arms, then her legs. Emma slowly moved an arm, then pushed against the ground. It took a few tries, but what had to be the fifth did it. Shaking, Emma pulled herself up to her hands and knees. For a moment, she slipped, almost landing back onto her stomach again.
Still weak.
Despite knowing better, her head turned.
Lily was still very still. Very... gone.
Emma elbows slightly buckled underneath her at the sight. She'd failed. She'd... she'd lost someone else. It wasn't fair. It wasn't. Emma kept breathing louder and louder. She didn't want to look anymore. But she didn't know what to do, or anything. What could she do?
A few more tries, this time at standing. Her legs felt limp, like cooked noodles. Each time she tried to push herself up, they only refused to cooperate. One more try. She had to stand. She had to. Both feet on the ground, slide upwards. Slow... slow...
Eventually, she could do it. Her legs still wobbled underneath her as she stood, but she was okay.
Lily wasn't, though.
Emma looked down at her gloved hands, still shaking and covered in blood. The memory of what happened was fresh. She couldn't save Lily. She didn't even think it would have been possible at that point, or even the right thing to try.
Emma looked around her. Everything seemed still, too still. Like there wouldn't be anything else after this. But her eye landed on one of the rooms. Distantly, she remembered that a shape had ran in that direction. Was it a good idea? To step closer that way?
Despite common sense telling her not to, she looked at Lily again. For a moment, Emma wondered if it was a good idea to pick up the sword. She still wasn't feeling well. But it was something. Something to... give her a way to defend herself.
Was she really thinking like that?
She looked back. Hesitantly, she stepped forward. It didn't seem like they'd gone far, if it was another room. Her legs still felt weak and numb. But despite better judgement, despite everything telling her not to, she had to.
"Hello?"
Her voice slightly echoed. It was slightly louder than she realized.
She stepped closer, further into the room.
Despite knowing it wasn't a good idea.
God fucking dammit.
Jae could see Emma's cowboy boots and that same sword Lily had been dragging behind her. Half a moment of déjà vu. Could Emma even lift that sword any better than Lily could have? Jae doubted it, but he wasn't in a hurry to find out.
How fucking long was he going to have to lay here, wedged under a bed like they were playing some deranged game of hide and seek?
He hadn't bothered to respond to Emma's call, but she was moving closer anyway.
Jae reached for the bag's zipper, noise be damned.
Jae could see Emma's cowboy boots and that same sword Lily had been dragging behind her. Half a moment of déjà vu. Could Emma even lift that sword any better than Lily could have? Jae doubted it, but he wasn't in a hurry to find out.
How fucking long was he going to have to lay here, wedged under a bed like they were playing some deranged game of hide and seek?
He hadn't bothered to respond to Emma's call, but she was moving closer anyway.
Jae reached for the bag's zipper, noise be damned.
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
((Dot entered this sad dream.))
The concept of being a monster scared Dot.
She killed Iz out of spite. To get her revenge, to kill the one that killed a friend. Nothing heroic about it. Perhaps it was, in a way, but really she just did it out of anger. The worst part: she didn't feel bad. If she felt bad, it could be reassuring. She would know that she did something bad and had a conscience, something that Iz didn't have. She left her head behind. Maybe she should have kept it to crush it some more.
She tried to feel bad, to think about her parents. They would cry when they see their daughter die, right? Especially if it their only daughter and they had big hopes for her, maybe they had a college fund or something like that. All that money went down to the drain when three girls (and a dead guy) kill their baby. That was suppose to make her sad.
She only felt a weird feeling of emptiness.
She was back at the dorm. Where she tased Al, robbed him, used the weapon to kill Iz then lost the weapon. If she were watching a YouTube video and that was the plot of a skit, she'd laugh. It was grim and the opposite of happy but it was ironic. Was it really ironic? She wasn't sure anymore.
The first time she was there, she was ambushed and fought back. She tased someone out of self-defense and picked up a weapon. She bit her lips, lightning wouldn't strike twice, right? Lightning could strike twice at the same place but Dorothy didn't know about that.
She also didn't know that the projectile used by a crossbow was called a bolt. The thing she had been calling an arrow for a while was sticking out of a body. A girl's body.
Jae did that. She smiled. She probably had it coming. One way or the other, had it coming and deserved to get skewered. She raised her eyes from the corpse and there was someone that wasn't Jae. Someone else. Another girl. She had a horrible thought. Perhaps she did it after killing Jae and taking his crossbow and shooting someone else.
Two kills. That's more than Dorothy had. Did that make her a worse monster than her?
She called out to the girl,
"Hey!"
There was a sight glee in her voice and a small smile drew itself on her lips. She waved at her, still beaming.
"I'm Dorothy, you can call me Dot though! What's your name?"
The concept of being a monster scared Dot.
She killed Iz out of spite. To get her revenge, to kill the one that killed a friend. Nothing heroic about it. Perhaps it was, in a way, but really she just did it out of anger. The worst part: she didn't feel bad. If she felt bad, it could be reassuring. She would know that she did something bad and had a conscience, something that Iz didn't have. She left her head behind. Maybe she should have kept it to crush it some more.
She tried to feel bad, to think about her parents. They would cry when they see their daughter die, right? Especially if it their only daughter and they had big hopes for her, maybe they had a college fund or something like that. All that money went down to the drain when three girls (and a dead guy) kill their baby. That was suppose to make her sad.
She only felt a weird feeling of emptiness.
She was back at the dorm. Where she tased Al, robbed him, used the weapon to kill Iz then lost the weapon. If she were watching a YouTube video and that was the plot of a skit, she'd laugh. It was grim and the opposite of happy but it was ironic. Was it really ironic? She wasn't sure anymore.
The first time she was there, she was ambushed and fought back. She tased someone out of self-defense and picked up a weapon. She bit her lips, lightning wouldn't strike twice, right? Lightning could strike twice at the same place but Dorothy didn't know about that.
She also didn't know that the projectile used by a crossbow was called a bolt. The thing she had been calling an arrow for a while was sticking out of a body. A girl's body.
Jae did that. She smiled. She probably had it coming. One way or the other, had it coming and deserved to get skewered. She raised her eyes from the corpse and there was someone that wasn't Jae. Someone else. Another girl. She had a horrible thought. Perhaps she did it after killing Jae and taking his crossbow and shooting someone else.
Two kills. That's more than Dorothy had. Did that make her a worse monster than her?
She called out to the girl,
"Hey!"
There was a sight glee in her voice and a small smile drew itself on her lips. She waved at her, still beaming.
"I'm Dorothy, you can call me Dot though! What's your name?"
((Skipping with permission))
When Jae heard Dorothy's voice, he was suddenly reminded of how she had greeted Alessio back at the church. How she had screamed at him, and Jae had been startled. How she had seemed when they met again in the hunting cabin, like something had come disconnected inside of her.
Should he really have been all that surprised that she would help kill Isabel?
Regardless, here she was again. She had known where he would go. He didn't know what to do with her, but his arm was starting to fall asleep, so he had to come out from under the bed sometime. So Dorothy spoke, Emma turned, and Jae unzipped the bag and grabbed another bolt for the crossbow, no longer caring about noise.
Lily was dead. Alessio was still out there running around. It was time to move on.
Jae slid out from under the bed and into an upright position, holding the crossbow in Emma and Dorothy's direction but not pointed at either one. His hands weren't quite steady now, though they had been when he took the shot.
"Dot," he said. After a moment he added, "Emma." She was halfway between him and Dorothy. One of them could hit her with their respective weapons if she was hostile.
He turned his attention more on Dorothy. "Where the hell did you end up? I thought you were going back here."
When Jae heard Dorothy's voice, he was suddenly reminded of how she had greeted Alessio back at the church. How she had screamed at him, and Jae had been startled. How she had seemed when they met again in the hunting cabin, like something had come disconnected inside of her.
Should he really have been all that surprised that she would help kill Isabel?
Regardless, here she was again. She had known where he would go. He didn't know what to do with her, but his arm was starting to fall asleep, so he had to come out from under the bed sometime. So Dorothy spoke, Emma turned, and Jae unzipped the bag and grabbed another bolt for the crossbow, no longer caring about noise.
Lily was dead. Alessio was still out there running around. It was time to move on.
Jae slid out from under the bed and into an upright position, holding the crossbow in Emma and Dorothy's direction but not pointed at either one. His hands weren't quite steady now, though they had been when he took the shot.
"Dot," he said. After a moment he added, "Emma." She was halfway between him and Dorothy. One of them could hit her with their respective weapons if she was hostile.
He turned his attention more on Dorothy. "Where the hell did you end up? I thought you were going back here."
"Art enriches the community, Steve, no less than a pulsing fire hose, or a fireman beating down a blazing door. So what if we're drawing a nude man? So what if all we ever draw is a nude man, or the same nude man over and over in all sorts of provocative positions? Context, not content! Process, not subject! Don't be so gauche, Steve, it's beneath you."
It didn't feel safe.
Emma stepped backwards. Maybe they were hiding somewhere. Maybe they were "Jae." Jae, Jae, where did she remember a Jae? She knew that name was familiar, but she couldn't, for the life of her, remember. But he could be here, hiding.
She knew it wasn't a good idea.
Her eyes landed on the sword again. Like a spell, she found herself stepping back to where it remained. Emma picked it up. Heavy. She couldn't lift it that well, but it was something. Oh, what was she thinking? Her legs still felt like they were made of lead, and she was thinking about... was it a good idea to pick up a sharp object?
Emma flinched. She inhaled through her teeth. That was a zipper. She swore that was a zipper. They were in there, definitely. Under the bed? Maybe? Probably. Good chance. The sound came from the bed, didn't it? And he... killed Lily. Probably.
That feeling that she had, the one about Isabel and Nancy, came back. And she didn't know what was worse: the idea that she could die like Lily, or the idea that felt that way. Another inhale through the teeth. But they did. Oh, they did.
Without realizing, she took another few steps back. And-
Emma flinched again. Her body snapped around.
"Dorothy? It's Emma, and..."
Dorothy, she had the feeling she'd come up recently. But, announcement? She was alive, so... killer, maybe? There was a long list of names associated with... how Isabel died, so that might be it, maybe? Her fatigued and harried mind wasn't working too well. All she knew was that smile wasn't good. She was smiling, even as Lily laid dead at her feet.
"I... don't think this is a good time," she said, her voice low.
At that, another noise happened. Emma snapped her head.
Now she remembered who Jae was. Jae was this boy, who wore his hair long and had this odd dress sense. Kind of artsy, but he was notorious because he had an extreme temper.
And he probably killed Lily. Probably? No. Did. He had a crossbow.
Emma said nothing as he said her name. She said nothing when he turned to address Dorothy. She said nothing.
But her fingers tightened around the handle. It was heavy, but it wasn't the only reason why her hand shook. Her shoulders hunched. Breath came and went between her teeth faster and faster, getting noisier.
Emma said nothing. But her narrowed, glared eyes and bared teeth told the story.
Emma stepped backwards. Maybe they were hiding somewhere. Maybe they were "Jae." Jae, Jae, where did she remember a Jae? She knew that name was familiar, but she couldn't, for the life of her, remember. But he could be here, hiding.
She knew it wasn't a good idea.
Her eyes landed on the sword again. Like a spell, she found herself stepping back to where it remained. Emma picked it up. Heavy. She couldn't lift it that well, but it was something. Oh, what was she thinking? Her legs still felt like they were made of lead, and she was thinking about... was it a good idea to pick up a sharp object?
Emma flinched. She inhaled through her teeth. That was a zipper. She swore that was a zipper. They were in there, definitely. Under the bed? Maybe? Probably. Good chance. The sound came from the bed, didn't it? And he... killed Lily. Probably.
That feeling that she had, the one about Isabel and Nancy, came back. And she didn't know what was worse: the idea that she could die like Lily, or the idea that felt that way. Another inhale through the teeth. But they did. Oh, they did.
Without realizing, she took another few steps back. And-
Emma flinched again. Her body snapped around.
"Dorothy? It's Emma, and..."
Dorothy, she had the feeling she'd come up recently. But, announcement? She was alive, so... killer, maybe? There was a long list of names associated with... how Isabel died, so that might be it, maybe? Her fatigued and harried mind wasn't working too well. All she knew was that smile wasn't good. She was smiling, even as Lily laid dead at her feet.
"I... don't think this is a good time," she said, her voice low.
At that, another noise happened. Emma snapped her head.
Now she remembered who Jae was. Jae was this boy, who wore his hair long and had this odd dress sense. Kind of artsy, but he was notorious because he had an extreme temper.
And he probably killed Lily. Probably? No. Did. He had a crossbow.
Emma said nothing as he said her name. She said nothing when he turned to address Dorothy. She said nothing.
But her fingers tightened around the handle. It was heavy, but it wasn't the only reason why her hand shook. Her shoulders hunched. Breath came and went between her teeth faster and faster, getting noisier.
Emma said nothing. But her narrowed, glared eyes and bared teeth told the story.