((Claire Monaghan continued from Un Certain Regard))
Claire looked at the guard station of the gated community. It was still really weird to think that there might have been a real population that lived on the island. Part of her thought the terrorists would have built the island specifically for the game. But that would be a bit of overkill, considering they would have had to make it look aged and decayed and only after getting the funds to build the entire damn thing. Who would fund this sort of thing anyways?
Man, it's like The Walking Dead meets Life After People. This is too depressing.
She and Kyle had walked a while since they left the Airstrip. They followed the road into the town and soon found themselves near the Gated Community. There were probably a few houses they could take refuge in, as long as there weren't any people already occupying.
Claire looked at the lanes of homes before them.
"Well," she said to Kyle, "got any preferences to where we stay?"
Wisteria Lane, After the End
((Kyle Fitzpatrick continued from Un Certain Regard))
Huh. Kyle had read a few books taking place in gated communities, but he never thought that he'd actually go into one. Seemed like he'd been doing a lot of things that day that he didn't think he'd do.
Kyle scanned around, looking for a good place to settle. This houses were all in pretty bad shape, but maybe he could find one that was somewhat decent to stay in for a while. Then he could rest, and maybe take that vest off and cool down a bit. It was already disgustingly hot on this island, and the extra layer of clothing didn't help one bit.
Yeah, go ahead, take off the vest. Why don't you go paint a huge target on your chest while you're at it?"
Ah yes. This argument again. Kyle really didn't have time for this. He began tapping his foot nervously as he tried to block out the rushing thoughts. Of course he couldn't know if Claire was trustworthy. Of course she could always just stab him in the back. But. This was the closest thing to a friendship Kyle had had in years. He didn't want to screw it up now, even if he did have good reason to.
After some thought, Kyle turned and looked toward a house with garage doors painted in a faded robin's egg blue. Pretty tacky, but it was kind of charming, in a way. You don't see many of those anymore. He pointed at it, then turned to Claire.
"How about that one?"
Fine, go ahead and get yourself killed. See if I care!
Can you please leave me alone for five minutes, at least? 5 minutes!
Unbeknownst to Kyle, his lips were moving along with his arguments. After a few moments, they stopped, and he turned to Claire, waiting for her response.
Huh. Kyle had read a few books taking place in gated communities, but he never thought that he'd actually go into one. Seemed like he'd been doing a lot of things that day that he didn't think he'd do.
Kyle scanned around, looking for a good place to settle. This houses were all in pretty bad shape, but maybe he could find one that was somewhat decent to stay in for a while. Then he could rest, and maybe take that vest off and cool down a bit. It was already disgustingly hot on this island, and the extra layer of clothing didn't help one bit.
Yeah, go ahead, take off the vest. Why don't you go paint a huge target on your chest while you're at it?"
Ah yes. This argument again. Kyle really didn't have time for this. He began tapping his foot nervously as he tried to block out the rushing thoughts. Of course he couldn't know if Claire was trustworthy. Of course she could always just stab him in the back. But. This was the closest thing to a friendship Kyle had had in years. He didn't want to screw it up now, even if he did have good reason to.
After some thought, Kyle turned and looked toward a house with garage doors painted in a faded robin's egg blue. Pretty tacky, but it was kind of charming, in a way. You don't see many of those anymore. He pointed at it, then turned to Claire.
"How about that one?"
Fine, go ahead and get yourself killed. See if I care!
Can you please leave me alone for five minutes, at least? 5 minutes!
Unbeknownst to Kyle, his lips were moving along with his arguments. After a few moments, they stopped, and he turned to Claire, waiting for her response.
((Becca continued from Vale Tudo))
Becca and Paulo didn't talk too much on the way down from the pair of mansions. It was tough to think of anything much to say beyond what had been said already. 'Geez, this sucks'? 'I hope we get to go soon'?. So far as Becca knew and could tell, they didn't have a whole lot in common, either. Her dossier on Paulo ran pretty thin after only a couple pieces of information, but she was building up a bit of an idea of him. Not enough, however, to start making small talk.
It was all a little bit redundant, and in all honesty, Becca's attention was taken up on their surroundings anyway. The grounds of the mansion were pretty overrun, and although they did have more altitude than the rest of the immediate surroundings, Becca's paranoia was ramped up to the nth degree. In any case, nobody burst out of any bushes on the way down the gentle slope - thank god the path wasn't too overgrown - and the two of them reached the streets without incident.
Paulo, for whatever reason, had seemed content enough to trot along behind her, and so as they stepped out amongst the houses, Becca stopped for him to catch up. Turning, she gestured along with her Colt.
"Bit uneasy," she confessed. "The streets are pretty open, and they're a lot of houses. People could be hiding, you know?"
She peered around the nearest corner whilst waiting for his response, but didn't spot anyone. Not too far in the distance, there was what seemed to be the entrance to the area, complete with guardhouse and rusted gate. It was tempting to make an immediate exit...
Becca and Paulo didn't talk too much on the way down from the pair of mansions. It was tough to think of anything much to say beyond what had been said already. 'Geez, this sucks'? 'I hope we get to go soon'?. So far as Becca knew and could tell, they didn't have a whole lot in common, either. Her dossier on Paulo ran pretty thin after only a couple pieces of information, but she was building up a bit of an idea of him. Not enough, however, to start making small talk.
It was all a little bit redundant, and in all honesty, Becca's attention was taken up on their surroundings anyway. The grounds of the mansion were pretty overrun, and although they did have more altitude than the rest of the immediate surroundings, Becca's paranoia was ramped up to the nth degree. In any case, nobody burst out of any bushes on the way down the gentle slope - thank god the path wasn't too overgrown - and the two of them reached the streets without incident.
Paulo, for whatever reason, had seemed content enough to trot along behind her, and so as they stepped out amongst the houses, Becca stopped for him to catch up. Turning, she gestured along with her Colt.
"Bit uneasy," she confessed. "The streets are pretty open, and they're a lot of houses. People could be hiding, you know?"
She peered around the nearest corner whilst waiting for his response, but didn't spot anyone. Not too far in the distance, there was what seemed to be the entrance to the area, complete with guardhouse and rusted gate. It was tempting to make an immediate exit...
Whatchu gonna do with all that junk, all that junk inside your trunk...
((Paulo Abbate continued from Vale Tudo ))
Paulo had followed along behind Becca at an even pace, singing in his head snippets of countless songs of or related to hindquarter appreciation, so he almost didn't hear her when she mentioned their next plan.
He could have done with a rest, though. Staring at your companions magnifico ass could work up an appetite.
"We should find a casa for a second, you know?" He said. "We ain't gonna be worth a fuck tired."
((Paulo Abbate continued from Vale Tudo ))
Paulo had followed along behind Becca at an even pace, singing in his head snippets of countless songs of or related to hindquarter appreciation, so he almost didn't hear her when she mentioned their next plan.
He could have done with a rest, though. Staring at your companions magnifico ass could work up an appetite.
"We should find a casa for a second, you know?" He said. "We ain't gonna be worth a fuck tired."
Claire studied the house Kyle picked out. It seemed like it would at least stand while they took residence in it. Claire read that homes on islands were likely to decay faster due to the ocean winds and storms. Then again, they were probably built to be a little stronger than that, so hopefully "death by roof collapse" was out of the option.
"Alright. That one should do. Then again, all the houses are the same, so it's basically just a color preference."
Man, this is just like the neighborhood in Edward Scissorhands. Housing communities sure are cookie cutter. But, I guess that's a Levey House for ya.
Claire moved down the street and approached the house Kyle picked. She stopped once she was in front of it, getting a good look at the home.
"I guess it would be best if we knocked in case anyone's home," she said aloud. "Probably should have brought some ambrosia salad though."
"Alright. That one should do. Then again, all the houses are the same, so it's basically just a color preference."
Man, this is just like the neighborhood in Edward Scissorhands. Housing communities sure are cookie cutter. But, I guess that's a Levey House for ya.
Claire moved down the street and approached the house Kyle picked. She stopped once she was in front of it, getting a good look at the home.
"I guess it would be best if we knocked in case anyone's home," she said aloud. "Probably should have brought some ambrosia salad though."
It took a second, the foreign word throwing her off slightly, but Becca realised Paulo was saying they should hole up for a while. This wouldn't be a bad place to do it, in all fairness, and being indoors would make her feel less exposed. On the other hand, it wasn't like they'd gone too far; was Paulo already tired or did he just want the two of them to get their bearings first?
Eh, either way, Becca could do with stopping for a bit. Jeans were okay for a plane ride, but she despised wearing them when having to move around to any great degree. You wouldn't wear jeans whilst working out, or playing ball... she wanted to be sure of her ability to run.
She nodded.
" 'kay. I need to get changed," Becca leaned out around the corner again. "Let's pick a good one, as first time homeowners and all," it was meant to be a joke, but fell flat. Urgh. This situation killed humour.
Eh, either way, Becca could do with stopping for a bit. Jeans were okay for a plane ride, but she despised wearing them when having to move around to any great degree. You wouldn't wear jeans whilst working out, or playing ball... she wanted to be sure of her ability to run.
She nodded.
" 'kay. I need to get changed," Becca leaned out around the corner again. "Let's pick a good one, as first time homeowners and all," it was meant to be a joke, but fell flat. Urgh. This situation killed humour.
Ambrosia salad? What the heck is that, some kind of poison? I told you Kyle, you should get out of here while you still can.
Oh shut up. Don't listen to him, Kyle. You go have a good time in there with your new girlfriend.
She's not my girlfriend!
"...girl..."
Embarrassed, Kyle noticed that he was beginning to again whisper his response aloud. Thanfully, he stopped himself. He wanted to scream. His thoughts had always been disorganised and contradictory, but now this was getting rather ridiculous. He sighed. No point getting upset about it now.
Still knocking on the door seemed like a good idea. Best not to disturb any gun wielding psychos, eh? He climbed the steps to the house and banged on the door a few times.
No answer. Great. The house seemed to be uninhabited for the time being. Kyle pushed open the door and stepped inside. The air smelled stale and musty, as if the house hadn't been lived in for years.
You can't be sure about that though...
Right. It was best not to make assumptions without fulling examining the situation. He turned back to the door where Claire was. Standing alone in this place was making him nervous. He called back to her.
"Um, it looks fine in here. Come on in!"
Liar. It looks like shit in here and you know it.
Haven't you heard of a white lie before? I swear, you're so dense sometimes.
Why did this sort of thing always have to happen to him? His fingers twitched nervously as he waited for the argument to end.
Oh shut up. Don't listen to him, Kyle. You go have a good time in there with your new girlfriend.
She's not my girlfriend!
"...girl..."
Embarrassed, Kyle noticed that he was beginning to again whisper his response aloud. Thanfully, he stopped himself. He wanted to scream. His thoughts had always been disorganised and contradictory, but now this was getting rather ridiculous. He sighed. No point getting upset about it now.
Still knocking on the door seemed like a good idea. Best not to disturb any gun wielding psychos, eh? He climbed the steps to the house and banged on the door a few times.
No answer. Great. The house seemed to be uninhabited for the time being. Kyle pushed open the door and stepped inside. The air smelled stale and musty, as if the house hadn't been lived in for years.
You can't be sure about that though...
Right. It was best not to make assumptions without fulling examining the situation. He turned back to the door where Claire was. Standing alone in this place was making him nervous. He called back to her.
"Um, it looks fine in here. Come on in!"
Liar. It looks like shit in here and you know it.
Haven't you heard of a white lie before? I swear, you're so dense sometimes.
Why did this sort of thing always have to happen to him? His fingers twitched nervously as he waited for the argument to end.
Paulo laughed. It sounded forced. It was forced. But for her, he'd make her feel like fucking Kevin Hart talking about his crackhead dad.
"Alright then. Market's open. Get us something with some class, you know?"
After he said that, he heard someone calling out, not too far off.
"Sounds like we're not the only buyers, menina."
"Alright then. Market's open. Get us something with some class, you know?"
After he said that, he heard someone calling out, not too far off.
"Sounds like we're not the only buyers, menina."
Becca appreciated the effort.
She stepped out into the street and then backpedalled so fast that she almost tripped over herself. Paulo's indication of the voice was unnecessary, at that point, but Becca nodded nevertheless.
"Yeah, no kidding," Becca muttered, dropping her volume instinctively. All of a sudden the gun felt like it weighed a hundred tons. If they were hostile, and at the other end of a street... could she really ask Paulo, with his plank of wood, to defend them?
Nope.
At the same time though, there was something in Becca tugging her towards at least checking out who it'd been. It hadn't sounded like an aggressive shout, nor a panicked one. What if that'd been... well, whoever - someone like Owen, Mallory, maybe Cammy? A lot of choices that she knew better and trusted more than Paulo. It was hard. Becca didn't want to have to think about looking after a friend, threatening, maybe, but if some of the class assholes were out there, wasn't staying away from them just like... saying she didn't care?
She felt better for having Paulo here and they weren't even friends.
"How you wanna play this? I'd hate to think that's a buddy down there and I never rolled up, if worst comes to worst then..." Becca glanced down at her hand, turning the gun over and over, lifted it to show him.
She stepped out into the street and then backpedalled so fast that she almost tripped over herself. Paulo's indication of the voice was unnecessary, at that point, but Becca nodded nevertheless.
"Yeah, no kidding," Becca muttered, dropping her volume instinctively. All of a sudden the gun felt like it weighed a hundred tons. If they were hostile, and at the other end of a street... could she really ask Paulo, with his plank of wood, to defend them?
Nope.
At the same time though, there was something in Becca tugging her towards at least checking out who it'd been. It hadn't sounded like an aggressive shout, nor a panicked one. What if that'd been... well, whoever - someone like Owen, Mallory, maybe Cammy? A lot of choices that she knew better and trusted more than Paulo. It was hard. Becca didn't want to have to think about looking after a friend, threatening, maybe, but if some of the class assholes were out there, wasn't staying away from them just like... saying she didn't care?
She felt better for having Paulo here and they weren't even friends.
"How you wanna play this? I'd hate to think that's a buddy down there and I never rolled up, if worst comes to worst then..." Becca glanced down at her hand, turning the gun over and over, lifted it to show him.
Claire was surprised to see Kyle go up to the house and knock. It was a risky thing to do considering the circumstances (although Claire did have to ask herself if the circumstances were already dire enough to be that paranoid), but it at least showed that he was willing to respect their partnership. She knew she'd have to show that she was as willing to scratch his back if the time came for it. Perhaps that one bullet she got was for a situation like that.
Kyle called her in, saying the coast was clear.
"Awesome!" she shouted back.
Before she stepped off the road, Claire decided to give one quick look around the area. It couldn't hurt to get familiar with one's surroundings before taking residence. At the very least, Claire felt she needed to confirm if she was in any danger for standing in the middle of the road, away from her one ally.
She began to quickly spin in place, checking all the different directions in the area. At one moment, she swore she saw some movement behind one corner.
Oh great. We got some lurkers in the shadows. Still, I can play it cool.
Claire continued to stare at the direction she swore she saw some movement from. If anyone was behind the corner, they were likely to pop up again.
Alright, let's get this over with. Who's the mystery guest?
Kyle called her in, saying the coast was clear.
"Awesome!" she shouted back.
Before she stepped off the road, Claire decided to give one quick look around the area. It couldn't hurt to get familiar with one's surroundings before taking residence. At the very least, Claire felt she needed to confirm if she was in any danger for standing in the middle of the road, away from her one ally.
She began to quickly spin in place, checking all the different directions in the area. At one moment, she swore she saw some movement behind one corner.
Oh great. We got some lurkers in the shadows. Still, I can play it cool.
Claire continued to stare at the direction she swore she saw some movement from. If anyone was behind the corner, they were likely to pop up again.
Alright, let's get this over with. Who's the mystery guest?
Kyle looked back. Why wasn't Claire following after him? Was something wrong? He couldn't see out the door to where she was standing anymore.
She was probably planning something. He shouldn't trust her, should he?
Kyle hesitated for a moment. Would it be safe to go outside and look for her? After all, who knew what could be going on out there? He scratched his head.
The smart decision would probably be to hide.
But then again, waiting alone in the house didn't seem too good either.
Kyle could feel a knot forming in his stomach. He knew it likely wasn't safe to leave the shelter, but it really was making him nervous staying alone in the house. He hadn't gotten the opportunity to check the upstairs or the basement. For all he knew, assailants could be lying in wait to get him as soon as his back was turned. Dozens of disturbing possibilites ran through Kyle's mind as he evaluated his options.
Finally, he decided to go outside. As he stepped through the door, he saw Claire looking intently down the street. What was she staring at? Waiting for accomplices to help her? No, would make no sense at all. Maybe someone was trying to sneak up on them and Claire had managed to notice them. Maybe they've been following her all along and she had hidden the truth from him for some reason. Whatever the case, Kyle reasoned that he would gain nothing from just standing around and doing nothing. He spoke quietly to Claire.
"What's wrong? Did you see something?"
She was probably planning something. He shouldn't trust her, should he?
Kyle hesitated for a moment. Would it be safe to go outside and look for her? After all, who knew what could be going on out there? He scratched his head.
The smart decision would probably be to hide.
But then again, waiting alone in the house didn't seem too good either.
Kyle could feel a knot forming in his stomach. He knew it likely wasn't safe to leave the shelter, but it really was making him nervous staying alone in the house. He hadn't gotten the opportunity to check the upstairs or the basement. For all he knew, assailants could be lying in wait to get him as soon as his back was turned. Dozens of disturbing possibilites ran through Kyle's mind as he evaluated his options.
Finally, he decided to go outside. As he stepped through the door, he saw Claire looking intently down the street. What was she staring at? Waiting for accomplices to help her? No, would make no sense at all. Maybe someone was trying to sneak up on them and Claire had managed to notice them. Maybe they've been following her all along and she had hidden the truth from him for some reason. Whatever the case, Kyle reasoned that he would gain nothing from just standing around and doing nothing. He spoke quietly to Claire.
"What's wrong? Did you see something?"
"That-" Paulo said, pointing at her gun with his be-wired plank of wood. "Is on you."
He slung the 2 X 4 across his shoulder, hocked, and spit onto the road next to them. He would never say, never admit, never even entertain the idea of admitting, that he was just a tiny bit scared and could have done with having some more people around. Motherfuckers with cast-iron balls just didn't do that.
But sometimes you wanted a little insurance. Yeah. Insurance. He'd keep telling himself that.
"We say hi, and if they're a bunch of foders we can deal with them, you know?"
He mostly meant Becca and that stainless steel hand cannon she'd gotten could deal with them. But it was the thought that counted.
He slung the 2 X 4 across his shoulder, hocked, and spit onto the road next to them. He would never say, never admit, never even entertain the idea of admitting, that he was just a tiny bit scared and could have done with having some more people around. Motherfuckers with cast-iron balls just didn't do that.
But sometimes you wanted a little insurance. Yeah. Insurance. He'd keep telling himself that.
"We say hi, and if they're a bunch of foders we can deal with them, you know?"
He mostly meant Becca and that stainless steel hand cannon she'd gotten could deal with them. But it was the thought that counted.
Becca looked from Paulo, to the gun, up to Paulo again. Shit. Of course he'd be wanting her to take point. This whole thing was a dumb idea. Only way it'd work is if she gave Paulo the gun, and sure as hell she wasn't going to do that. She was kind've stuck now though... couldn't just run off, or say 'yeah ima ditch you, ciao' at this point. Crap. Becca needed some time to rethink this but... okay, later. Later. Right now there were other priorities.
"We'll take a look," was her eventual response.
Gun out in front of her - the Colt held more like a shield than a weapon, Becca stepped into the open around the street corner, and immediately dropped to a knee. She could see someone looking out at her.
"We'll take a look," was her eventual response.
Gun out in front of her - the Colt held more like a shield than a weapon, Becca stepped into the open around the street corner, and immediately dropped to a knee. She could see someone looking out at her.
"I think I saw someone around the corner," Claire said to Kyle. "It might be nothing, but I want to be sure."
Claire gulped and tightened her grip around the flashlight. If someone was lurking, then it might not be safe to go into the house right now. Someone would know they were in there and might use the chance to siege their new hideout.
Okay. If it gets really bad, drop the bag and get the fuck out of here. Don't you have to move in zig-zags to avoid bullets? Yeah, I'll do that.
Just then, a girl emerged from behind the corner and dropped to her knee. Claire saw that she was holding a gun directly at them. She recognized the girl as Becca Everett from the basketball team. Claire had filmed one of her games once, but knew little else about the girl.
Claire immediately threw her arms up in the air.
"Woah!" she shouted at Becca. "We don't want any trouble! Let's not be hasty!"
Come on, come on, it's only the first day, no need to be crazy.
Claire gulped and tightened her grip around the flashlight. If someone was lurking, then it might not be safe to go into the house right now. Someone would know they were in there and might use the chance to siege their new hideout.
Okay. If it gets really bad, drop the bag and get the fuck out of here. Don't you have to move in zig-zags to avoid bullets? Yeah, I'll do that.
Just then, a girl emerged from behind the corner and dropped to her knee. Claire saw that she was holding a gun directly at them. She recognized the girl as Becca Everett from the basketball team. Claire had filmed one of her games once, but knew little else about the girl.
Claire immediately threw her arms up in the air.
"Woah!" she shouted at Becca. "We don't want any trouble! Let's not be hasty!"
Come on, come on, it's only the first day, no need to be crazy.
Other people were here? Kyle's pulse quickened as he looked around frantically. That wasn't good. Not good at all. Did they have weapons? Kyle looked over the newcomers.
He knew it. This wasn't going to end well, and it was all Kyle's fault.
Well, maybe they'd be friends.
Shit, one had a gun! Images of bullets penetrating his body filled Kyle's mind. He did have a bulletproof vest, but he didn't trust it one bit right then. He'd seen the show before. For all he knew, it was a fake designed to lure him into a false sense of security. This was bad. This was very, very bad.
Get down on your knees.
Kyle had no idea where that came from, but he obeyed never the less.
He knew it. This wasn't going to end well, and it was all Kyle's fault.
Well, maybe they'd be friends.
Shit, one had a gun! Images of bullets penetrating his body filled Kyle's mind. He did have a bulletproof vest, but he didn't trust it one bit right then. He'd seen the show before. For all he knew, it was a fake designed to lure him into a false sense of security. This was bad. This was very, very bad.
Get down on your knees.
Kyle had no idea where that came from, but he obeyed never the less.