(Kyle Harrison continued from Don't Stray Off the Path)
Kyle stood outside the temple, admiring it. It was an old building, but it still had a majestic feel to it. He didn't know what it represented. His best guess was that it had a religious purpose for the people who used to live on the island, since the mural reminded him of the stained glass at church back home. It really was beautiful, and looking at it made him feel a little better. The rising sun made him feel like a new day was rising for him and Violet now that they were there, together. Like things would be different now.
The gathering clouds and drips of rain beginning to come down drew his attention, and he looked up only to be greeted with a few droplets landing right on the lenses of his glasses. He took them off and wiped them with his shirt, shaking his head. An annoying inconvenience, but he was still okay. Just a little wet, that's all.
He looked over to Violet, holding his hand above his brow to shield his glasses from any more unwanted water. "Want to go inside?" He asked, pointing his thumb towards the entrance to the temple. "We can stay here until the rain stops."
The Praise and Glory
Day 2, beginning of the rain. Private.
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MethodicalSlacker
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She was never a person who particularly enjoyed being rained on, but right now was maybe the best time for it to happen. It'd wash off some of the dirt and grime and blood, Violet thought, if she just stood outside and let it wash over her. At the same time, though, she didn't have a way to get dry. She left that way behind. If only she knew that it was going to rain. If only, if only.
[Violet Schmidt continued from Don't Stray Off the Path.]
They'd been walking around aimlessly for some time, now, looking for somewhere they could stay and rest. Then, basically just as the rain started, they came across the temple. Violet was internally a little iffy on entering grounds consecrated to someone else's religion. Kyle didn't know about Violet's beliefs—hadn't really asked, hadn't found the robe in her bag—but she worried that entering such a focal point of energy might lead to him discovering her and subsequently turning on her. That would fall in accordance with yesterday's epiphany of the rising karmic payback—that as she progressed and did more things that butterfly-effected off into the world, sending consequence outward like ripples on a pond, it would be harder to pay off her karmic debt.
On the other hand, she might be able to tap into the latent energy here. It could be a good spot to meditate. Center herself, since she wasn't quite over what happened yesterday.
"Sure," Violet said, "you lead the way."
[Violet Schmidt continued from Don't Stray Off the Path.]
They'd been walking around aimlessly for some time, now, looking for somewhere they could stay and rest. Then, basically just as the rain started, they came across the temple. Violet was internally a little iffy on entering grounds consecrated to someone else's religion. Kyle didn't know about Violet's beliefs—hadn't really asked, hadn't found the robe in her bag—but she worried that entering such a focal point of energy might lead to him discovering her and subsequently turning on her. That would fall in accordance with yesterday's epiphany of the rising karmic payback—that as she progressed and did more things that butterfly-effected off into the world, sending consequence outward like ripples on a pond, it would be harder to pay off her karmic debt.
On the other hand, she might be able to tap into the latent energy here. It could be a good spot to meditate. Center herself, since she wasn't quite over what happened yesterday.
"Sure," Violet said, "you lead the way."
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- "All right." Kyle said with a nod and an optimistic smile. "Let's head in."
Kyle stepped through the entrance, which he still couldn't help but find absolutely enthralling. Whoever had painted it must have really cared about what they were making, because it was really beautiful. And through the entrance he found something... that was quite a bit less majestic.
The interior was run-down, partially broken, and generally looked like no one had taken care of it for a long time. What he had thought just a few moments ago was so beautiful and magnificent only held a reminder of the abandoned location that they found themselves in. It was sad, but... he still felt like this place had a special feel to it. He couldn't really explain why, he just felt it.
He walked inside, and turned around to see Violet in as well. "It's kind of nice, isn't it?"
Kyle stepped through the entrance, which he still couldn't help but find absolutely enthralling. Whoever had painted it must have really cared about what they were making, because it was really beautiful. And through the entrance he found something... that was quite a bit less majestic.
The interior was run-down, partially broken, and generally looked like no one had taken care of it for a long time. What he had thought just a few moments ago was so beautiful and magnificent only held a reminder of the abandoned location that they found themselves in. It was sad, but... he still felt like this place had a special feel to it. He couldn't really explain why, he just felt it.
He walked inside, and turned around to see Violet in as well. "It's kind of nice, isn't it?"
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MethodicalSlacker
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Violet followed shortly after Kyle, not paying much extra mind to the mural of the sun. As far as religious iconography went, the sun was the most neutral one there was. She couldn't get any read on any sort of energy from the way the exterior of the building went, which was perhaps more frightening than if she had a definitively negative readout on the temple. Whatever was inside couldn't be good.
Her fears were confirmed as she stepped into the building, but not in a way that she had expected. The smell of mold and mildew filled her nostrils. There was a spot on the other side of the room where it looked like a portrait could be, but it was gone. One of the roof beams had fallen to the ground, and the area around where it had broken off on the ceiling looked somewhat damaged as well from weathering and the additional weight it had to take on. Violet stepped further into the room, walking past Kyle. There were some cereal marshmallows on the ground, which struck her as somewhat odd.
She picked up a handful of the marshmallows. This was not a place of unfamiliar energy. It was an energy vacuum. Totally empty, able to be molded to whatever spiritual purpose one saw fit for it. Limitless potential, but that came at a cost. No God or spirit watched over this place, and it would take some serious work to banish any kind of lingering spirits or meandering souls from this location if Violet wanted to use it in any way. Not that using it like that would be possible with Kyle around. If he prayed, it would be lost in here, she surmised.
Violet walked over to Kyle and showed up the marshmallows in her hand. Oh well, she thought. Someone had been here before, and maybe the beam had fallen out on its own, and things would be alright.
"Yeah," she said, trying to work up to a smile, "it's pretty okay here."
Her fears were confirmed as she stepped into the building, but not in a way that she had expected. The smell of mold and mildew filled her nostrils. There was a spot on the other side of the room where it looked like a portrait could be, but it was gone. One of the roof beams had fallen to the ground, and the area around where it had broken off on the ceiling looked somewhat damaged as well from weathering and the additional weight it had to take on. Violet stepped further into the room, walking past Kyle. There were some cereal marshmallows on the ground, which struck her as somewhat odd.
She picked up a handful of the marshmallows. This was not a place of unfamiliar energy. It was an energy vacuum. Totally empty, able to be molded to whatever spiritual purpose one saw fit for it. Limitless potential, but that came at a cost. No God or spirit watched over this place, and it would take some serious work to banish any kind of lingering spirits or meandering souls from this location if Violet wanted to use it in any way. Not that using it like that would be possible with Kyle around. If he prayed, it would be lost in here, she surmised.
Violet walked over to Kyle and showed up the marshmallows in her hand. Oh well, she thought. Someone had been here before, and maybe the beam had fallen out on its own, and things would be alright.
"Yeah," she said, trying to work up to a smile, "it's pretty okay here."
Kyle looked around the room until Violet approached him with something in her hand. He leaned slightly forward and adjusted his glasses to get a better look at... a handful of Lucky Charms? Leaning to the side, he saw that there was a good amount of marshmallows spilled all over the floor. He raised an eyebrow at this. Had someone been here before them? Between the marshmallows and the busted parts of the building, it definitely looked like it. He didn't think that he could link the two events together, necessarily, but it was clear that they weren't the first visitors to the temple.
"... Huh." He responds with interest and mild amusement. "I guess someone had breakfast." Kyle quickly regretted mentioning food. All he had eaten since he got to the island was the rations provided in his bag, and he was less than enthused by them. But on the bright side, at least someone seemed to be eating somewhat well... provided they actually ate some of the cereal instead of just spilling it everywhere.
"So anyway..." Kyle turned his attention back to Violet. "We can stay here for a while." He heard the sound of rain hitting the roof. Only a few droplets, but they were gradually starting to become more frequent. "Good thing we made it, too. Just in time to get out of the rain."
He smiled calmly, satisfied with their place for the time being.
"... Huh." He responds with interest and mild amusement. "I guess someone had breakfast." Kyle quickly regretted mentioning food. All he had eaten since he got to the island was the rations provided in his bag, and he was less than enthused by them. But on the bright side, at least someone seemed to be eating somewhat well... provided they actually ate some of the cereal instead of just spilling it everywhere.
"So anyway..." Kyle turned his attention back to Violet. "We can stay here for a while." He heard the sound of rain hitting the roof. Only a few droplets, but they were gradually starting to become more frequent. "Good thing we made it, too. Just in time to get out of the rain."
He smiled calmly, satisfied with their place for the time being.
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MethodicalSlacker
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"Yes," Violet said, giving Kyle a friendly nod, "it feels hot right now, but, um, still, getting soaked to the bone probably isn't, um, a good idea."
She set down her bags in the middle of the floor and motioned for Kyle to do the same. Then, she walked over to where the cushions were, next to the wall, and picked up a couple—one for Kyle, and one for herself. They felt kind of weird and grubby to the touch, but they'd do fine to sit on right now. Maybe later once they explored the building a little more, they could find hard chairs to put the cushions on. It wasn't like Violet was a clean freak or anything; it was just that the idea of sitting so closely to the floor wasn't the most appealing to her at the moment.
Violet placed down the cushions and sat on the one closer to her own bag. Leaning over, she grabbed her day-pack and unzipped it so that she could fish out some food. She picked out some of the bread, along with a water bottle so that she could wash down the food. It was hard to remind herself not to get too cozy, since anyone else caught in the rain would probably also be searching for some kind of shelter. If need be, her gun was close by, the butt sticking out of the bag ready to be drawn out and aimed at a moment's notice. The barrel, not the butt. That'd be awkward, trying to warn someone away with a gun but just pointing it at yourself. It was exactly the kind of dumb mistake she could picture herself making.
Teeth dug into bread. Still a little soft. It made more sense to tear off a piece, but Violet honestly didn't see the point in that. She was going to be tearing pieces off still, just with her teeth instead of her hands. It was removing an unnecessary step from the process, in her eyes, to bite directly from the loaf.
Turning to Kyle, she decided to make conversation with him. She had been deliberately not thinking about what she had heard earlier in the morning—most of the names she heard had fallen out of her head, as she was more surprised that her name was not among them (she had a bit of a scare when she heard the other Violet's name come up, though, a brief surprise she tried her best to keep Kyle from noticing)—but she figured she might as well bring it up because if there was one thing to talk about, it was this.
"What did you think," she began, "um, of the announcements?"
She set down her bags in the middle of the floor and motioned for Kyle to do the same. Then, she walked over to where the cushions were, next to the wall, and picked up a couple—one for Kyle, and one for herself. They felt kind of weird and grubby to the touch, but they'd do fine to sit on right now. Maybe later once they explored the building a little more, they could find hard chairs to put the cushions on. It wasn't like Violet was a clean freak or anything; it was just that the idea of sitting so closely to the floor wasn't the most appealing to her at the moment.
Violet placed down the cushions and sat on the one closer to her own bag. Leaning over, she grabbed her day-pack and unzipped it so that she could fish out some food. She picked out some of the bread, along with a water bottle so that she could wash down the food. It was hard to remind herself not to get too cozy, since anyone else caught in the rain would probably also be searching for some kind of shelter. If need be, her gun was close by, the butt sticking out of the bag ready to be drawn out and aimed at a moment's notice. The barrel, not the butt. That'd be awkward, trying to warn someone away with a gun but just pointing it at yourself. It was exactly the kind of dumb mistake she could picture herself making.
Teeth dug into bread. Still a little soft. It made more sense to tear off a piece, but Violet honestly didn't see the point in that. She was going to be tearing pieces off still, just with her teeth instead of her hands. It was removing an unnecessary step from the process, in her eyes, to bite directly from the loaf.
Turning to Kyle, she decided to make conversation with him. She had been deliberately not thinking about what she had heard earlier in the morning—most of the names she heard had fallen out of her head, as she was more surprised that her name was not among them (she had a bit of a scare when she heard the other Violet's name come up, though, a brief surprise she tried her best to keep Kyle from noticing)—but she figured she might as well bring it up because if there was one thing to talk about, it was this.
"What did you think," she began, "um, of the announcements?"
Kyle followed Violet to the wall and sat cross-legged on the cushion that she offered him. The floor looked, well, dusty, like it hadn't been cleaned in a very long time. Considering the state of the rest of the building, that would be a pretty fair guess to make. He looked down and used his finger to flick away a stray marshmallow that was sitting near his knee, sending it skipping to the main pile.
Seeing Violet grab some food gave Kyle a twinge of hunger as well. He may not have particularly liked to food that was in their packs, but it was better than nothing by a wide margin. He retrieved a tip of crackers and popped the top off, reaching in and pulling one out. It seemed... bland, and that was before he even got around to tasting it. It didn't even have the character that a saltine would bring. It was just the plainest, least interesting cracker he had ever seen.
But for now, it was a snack.
His grip on the cracker tensed when Violet mentioned the announcements, cracking it a little between his fingers. He hadn't wanted to think about them again, which was why he hadn't brought them up. But now that Violet had put it out there, he felt that there wasn't a choice.
"It scared me." He said simply, shaking his head and looking at the ground. "I remembered a lot of the names that he mentioned. People who died. People who..." He had a hard time forcing the word through his lips, his mind doing its best to keep him from associating any of his classmates with such an action. "... Killed." He looked back up at Violet, shaken. "When I heard them mention the other Violet... it freaked me out. I had to turn around to make sure that you were still here." His voice cracked a little during his explanation, hinting at his unearthed distress.
Seeing Violet grab some food gave Kyle a twinge of hunger as well. He may not have particularly liked to food that was in their packs, but it was better than nothing by a wide margin. He retrieved a tip of crackers and popped the top off, reaching in and pulling one out. It seemed... bland, and that was before he even got around to tasting it. It didn't even have the character that a saltine would bring. It was just the plainest, least interesting cracker he had ever seen.
But for now, it was a snack.
His grip on the cracker tensed when Violet mentioned the announcements, cracking it a little between his fingers. He hadn't wanted to think about them again, which was why he hadn't brought them up. But now that Violet had put it out there, he felt that there wasn't a choice.
"It scared me." He said simply, shaking his head and looking at the ground. "I remembered a lot of the names that he mentioned. People who died. People who..." He had a hard time forcing the word through his lips, his mind doing its best to keep him from associating any of his classmates with such an action. "... Killed." He looked back up at Violet, shaken. "When I heard them mention the other Violet... it freaked me out. I had to turn around to make sure that you were still here." His voice cracked a little during his explanation, hinting at his unearthed distress.
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MethodicalSlacker
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Violet nodded when he mentioned the thing about the other Violet, just like she had been thinking about moments before except with the roles reversed. She thought for a moment about the other people with shared names; the Camillas, the Lucases. How many people would mistakenly believe that their friends had died? How many would mistakenly believe that they had killed others? At least now, if Violet was going to die, none of her friends would be mistaken about what had happened. The same went in the other direction, too.
"Did you, um, know any of them very closely?" Violet asked, "Um, I saw Blaise and Tyrell and Dante earlier in the day, and, um, I didn't think that any of them would kill others. I was, um, with them on the pier. Lorenzo showed up, and him and Tyrell started fighting, so, if Tyrell was going to show up in the announcements, I thought it would be with Lorenzo too."
The obvious omission was, of course, something she'd get to later. Something she'd even get to if he asked right now, really! It was just something she didn't want to think about. A feeling she really didn't want to relive. She rubbed her shoulders, up and down and up and down. She wasn't even cold. Powerless power, fearless fear. And it set her down this current path, with this current debt—how could she ever repay it? Thoughts started to bumblebuzz around her head, smushing into one another yet again, and she waved them from her mind.
"Lorenzo! Um," she started, her own volume surprising her at first, "did something very bad. Before coming here."
"Did you, um, know any of them very closely?" Violet asked, "Um, I saw Blaise and Tyrell and Dante earlier in the day, and, um, I didn't think that any of them would kill others. I was, um, with them on the pier. Lorenzo showed up, and him and Tyrell started fighting, so, if Tyrell was going to show up in the announcements, I thought it would be with Lorenzo too."
The obvious omission was, of course, something she'd get to later. Something she'd even get to if he asked right now, really! It was just something she didn't want to think about. A feeling she really didn't want to relive. She rubbed her shoulders, up and down and up and down. She wasn't even cold. Powerless power, fearless fear. And it set her down this current path, with this current debt—how could she ever repay it? Thoughts started to bumblebuzz around her head, smushing into one another yet again, and she waved them from her mind.
"Lorenzo! Um," she started, her own volume surprising her at first, "did something very bad. Before coming here."
Kyle paused midway through eating his cracker. Violet hadn't said much about what she had done before she and Kyle had run into each other, and now Kyle was wishing that they had talked about it more. Now he knew that Violet had run into two of he island's killers on the first day, and he was silently thankful that she had managed to dodge the ire of both of them. Doubly scary, she had found Tyrell and Blaise, a multiple murderer and the terrorists' favorite, apparently. A sharp chill ran down Kyle's spine.
But even scarier than that was what she said about Lorenzo. The people who had killed, inexcusable as that was, were being spurred on by the island, and the terrorists' game. Kyle was positive that they would have never done such things in their regular lives. But what Violet said about Lorenzo... she didn't give any details, but it still scared him. Kyle didn't know him well, but the idea of him doing something horrible on his own accord, without that influence... something that could be spoken of in the same breath as the island murders... how was that possible?
"What..." The words left his mouth faster than he could think about them. "What did he do?"
But even scarier than that was what she said about Lorenzo. The people who had killed, inexcusable as that was, were being spurred on by the island, and the terrorists' game. Kyle was positive that they would have never done such things in their regular lives. But what Violet said about Lorenzo... she didn't give any details, but it still scared him. Kyle didn't know him well, but the idea of him doing something horrible on his own accord, without that influence... something that could be spoken of in the same breath as the island murders... how was that possible?
"What..." The words left his mouth faster than he could think about them. "What did he do?"
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MethodicalSlacker
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"He, um," Violet began, before stopping abruptly.
Kyle looked scared. She hadn't even started telling him what had happened yet, but he looked scared all the same. Gosh, did she really have that effect on people? It didn't really surprise her, all things considered, but it was a strange thing to suddenly be confronted with. Her power over people, even when not holding a gun. Information was a weapon in its own right, she realized, and all of a sudden she wasn't really sure if she wanted to say anything at all anymore.
But she had to.
"Um, Tyrell said, that Artem, that Lorenzo, that Lorenzo, um, forced himself on Artem. Artem Fyodorov, if you don't know him, um, yeah, and he said, that things had happened."
Violet looked down at her hands. They were still.
"Lorenzo did something bad and has continued to do bad things. He was trying to attack me and the other people I was with, before Tyrell came along. He had a mace. Big swingy thing, um, spikes too. He's dangerous. I'm not, um, saying Tyrell saved me! I had a gun. I shot at them, and I missed too, but Tyrell fought him, knocked him down, and, um, I was able to defend myself, if I needed to, um."
Kyle looked scared. She hadn't even started telling him what had happened yet, but he looked scared all the same. Gosh, did she really have that effect on people? It didn't really surprise her, all things considered, but it was a strange thing to suddenly be confronted with. Her power over people, even when not holding a gun. Information was a weapon in its own right, she realized, and all of a sudden she wasn't really sure if she wanted to say anything at all anymore.
But she had to.
"Um, Tyrell said, that Artem, that Lorenzo, that Lorenzo, um, forced himself on Artem. Artem Fyodorov, if you don't know him, um, yeah, and he said, that things had happened."
Violet looked down at her hands. They were still.
"Lorenzo did something bad and has continued to do bad things. He was trying to attack me and the other people I was with, before Tyrell came along. He had a mace. Big swingy thing, um, spikes too. He's dangerous. I'm not, um, saying Tyrell saved me! I had a gun. I shot at them, and I missed too, but Tyrell fought him, knocked him down, and, um, I was able to defend myself, if I needed to, um."
The impact of what Violet had just told him froze Kyle in place, the only movement coming from his appalled and terrified eyes. He didn't know Artem, but what Lorenzo did... it was totally inexcusable. And again, that happened before they had been kidnapped, so that horrible action was completely his own decision. Someone like that was dangerous. He couldn't be trusted.
And... he had tried to attack Violet too.
Kyle felt scared, but also angry. Someone like Lorenzo... they needed to stay as far away from him as possible. Violet had already encountered him, and that was far too close. Come to think of it, Violet had already had way too many run-ins with scary characters. She had had the absolute worst luck, but... she was still alive. She managed to find Kyle, and now he wanted to make sure that both of them were safe and healthy, although he had no idea how to guarantee that. Everyone had free reign over the island, and their supplies would only last so long. But still... they would find a way. They had to.
"I...I'm just really glad you're safe." Kyle said, visibly and audibly choked up. "I don't think I could handle it if something had happened to you."
And... he had tried to attack Violet too.
Kyle felt scared, but also angry. Someone like Lorenzo... they needed to stay as far away from him as possible. Violet had already encountered him, and that was far too close. Come to think of it, Violet had already had way too many run-ins with scary characters. She had had the absolute worst luck, but... she was still alive. She managed to find Kyle, and now he wanted to make sure that both of them were safe and healthy, although he had no idea how to guarantee that. Everyone had free reign over the island, and their supplies would only last so long. But still... they would find a way. They had to.
"I...I'm just really glad you're safe." Kyle said, visibly and audibly choked up. "I don't think I could handle it if something had happened to you."
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MethodicalSlacker
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"Kyle..."
She tensed up, just a little. What was he going to do now? He was starting to cry, wasn't he? She felt like the right thing to do was something she couldn't fathom doing. She felt like what she wanted to do was scoot back a little. Maybe he was going to come over to her, and try to put his arms around her, or something. She really hoped not. Violet didn't mind Kyle at all, but the thought of that happening just made her feel kind of gross. It'd be really, really uncomfortable, and—
What was she even thinking? This was Kyle, one of her closest friends. Of course he was scared about what could have happened to her, or what was going to happen to her in the future. It was a natural reaction, and the kind of reaction that Violet would probably have had if she had heard Kyle was going through the same thing. Why was she suddenly so cold and callous, emotionally? Why was her initial thought not that he was hurting, but that he was going to potentially do something that might hurt her? Not strictly physically, although there was that component, but with regards to her own mental state?
"I'm fine," Violet said, forcing a smile of consolation onto her face, "I'm going to be fine. Want to see my gun? Nobody's going to even think of touching me when I point this thing at them."
She tensed up, just a little. What was he going to do now? He was starting to cry, wasn't he? She felt like the right thing to do was something she couldn't fathom doing. She felt like what she wanted to do was scoot back a little. Maybe he was going to come over to her, and try to put his arms around her, or something. She really hoped not. Violet didn't mind Kyle at all, but the thought of that happening just made her feel kind of gross. It'd be really, really uncomfortable, and—
What was she even thinking? This was Kyle, one of her closest friends. Of course he was scared about what could have happened to her, or what was going to happen to her in the future. It was a natural reaction, and the kind of reaction that Violet would probably have had if she had heard Kyle was going through the same thing. Why was she suddenly so cold and callous, emotionally? Why was her initial thought not that he was hurting, but that he was going to potentially do something that might hurt her? Not strictly physically, although there was that component, but with regards to her own mental state?
"I'm fine," Violet said, forcing a smile of consolation onto her face, "I'm going to be fine. Want to see my gun? Nobody's going to even think of touching me when I point this thing at them."
A gun...
So that was what they had to rely on now? Violet's gun? It was sad to even think that they had already been reduced to relying on whatever the biggest knife, or largest gun was for safety. They weren't barbarians. Problems could be solved through conversation, or compromise. That was how it was supposed to be. Not this. Never this.
But he relented. "Okay, I guess. I just hope that we don't have to use it."
Kyle felt his spine tense up at the suggestion, but he told himself that it would be okay. Violet was just getting her gun out, in case they needed it. Not that they would... or at least he hoped that was the case. But even so... Violet was a good person. She wouldn't use it unless she absolutely had to, and he trusted her judgment.
So that was what they had to rely on now? Violet's gun? It was sad to even think that they had already been reduced to relying on whatever the biggest knife, or largest gun was for safety. They weren't barbarians. Problems could be solved through conversation, or compromise. That was how it was supposed to be. Not this. Never this.
But he relented. "Okay, I guess. I just hope that we don't have to use it."
Kyle felt his spine tense up at the suggestion, but he told himself that it would be okay. Violet was just getting her gun out, in case they needed it. Not that they would... or at least he hoped that was the case. But even so... Violet was a good person. She wouldn't use it unless she absolutely had to, and he trusted her judgment.
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MethodicalSlacker
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"I-"
Violet stopped herself. She knew the real way that Kyle meant "use it." On purpose. Successfully. In that way, she hadn't done that yet. In that way, she still had the potential to get out of the karmic loop. In that way, she was still somewhat clean. Violet couldn't resign herself just yet to her fate, because Kyle was reminding her that there was a way out of it all. Act like a pacifist, do no harm. Forget that this is Survival of the Fittest and just be as kind and helpful to your friends as you were just a couple days ago. Meet the increasingly terrible with an unflinching smile.
"Y-yeah," she said, "um, let's hope."
But it made her feel hollow as a cavern to say.
She took another bite of the bread before putting it away, putting the gun back in the bag next to it. She left the bag open in case she needed to grab it. Violet then stood and stretched, reaching one arm over her head raised in a fist towards the sky and leaning over just slightly to loosen up the muscles in her sides. It made her yawn.
Violet stopped herself. She knew the real way that Kyle meant "use it." On purpose. Successfully. In that way, she hadn't done that yet. In that way, she still had the potential to get out of the karmic loop. In that way, she was still somewhat clean. Violet couldn't resign herself just yet to her fate, because Kyle was reminding her that there was a way out of it all. Act like a pacifist, do no harm. Forget that this is Survival of the Fittest and just be as kind and helpful to your friends as you were just a couple days ago. Meet the increasingly terrible with an unflinching smile.
"Y-yeah," she said, "um, let's hope."
But it made her feel hollow as a cavern to say.
She took another bite of the bread before putting it away, putting the gun back in the bag next to it. She left the bag open in case she needed to grab it. Violet then stood and stretched, reaching one arm over her head raised in a fist towards the sky and leaning over just slightly to loosen up the muscles in her sides. It made her yawn.
"Yeah, we can do it." Kyle said optimistically, almost overly so. "I think that we'll be all right. We'll think of something." His words were those of reassurance. He said that things would be okay because that was what he wished for. And for now, the best way to work towards that was to keep spirits up, to not succumb to the cruelty of the terrorists' game.
He tried to think of something else, something that would point their minds in a less grim direction. He glanced around the room before his eyes fell upon the pile of marshmallows. He tilted his head slightly as he started to put the pieces together in his mind. What he was thinking about wasn't a sure thing, but at the very least it should have been able to occupy them for a while.
"So I was thinking about those marshmallows. Those aren't in our packs, right?" He asked Violet. "I was thinking that maybe there might be some more food around here. I mean, they had to come from somewhere, right?" He continued, the spark of hope still shining in his eyes. "Think we should take a look around?"
He tried to think of something else, something that would point their minds in a less grim direction. He glanced around the room before his eyes fell upon the pile of marshmallows. He tilted his head slightly as he started to put the pieces together in his mind. What he was thinking about wasn't a sure thing, but at the very least it should have been able to occupy them for a while.
"So I was thinking about those marshmallows. Those aren't in our packs, right?" He asked Violet. "I was thinking that maybe there might be some more food around here. I mean, they had to come from somewhere, right?" He continued, the spark of hope still shining in his eyes. "Think we should take a look around?"