((Kai Rosado-Prince continued from Lines In The Sand))
Jess was dead.
That was the knowledge that wrapped around Kai as closely as the cold as the echoes of Danya's voice faded from the cave. He had ducked in when the noise first started up. Driven by some instinct to hide, maybe. He crouched in the dimmer light, leaning his umbrella against the cave wall and holding his bag against his chest. Tried to breathe evenly.
Kitty had killed again, and that sat in the pit of his stomach like a stone, but-
Jess was dead. She was supposed to be with Chloé and Marshall. She'd somehow ended up wandering out in the wilderness, and now she was dead. Just like that.
Had she run out after him? Had Chloé and Marshall just... let her go? Kai walking out was one thing. He knew the wilderness and the cold. He'd made it through the night camping out, though it hadn't been fun. Jess was still suffering from falling in the lake.
There was still an anger burning in his chest, but it wouldn't stoke into a proper flame. He stayed crouching for a long time, watching his breath puff out in front of him, until he was sure that his anger and upset wasn't going to explode into rage again. Then he slowly unfolded, standing back up and readjusting his belongings.
Kitty had killed again. She had no way of knowing that Kai had defended her somewhere across the island from wherever she was. It felt like it should have counted for something more, with someone. Kai hadn't even intended for it to turn into a fight. Chloé and Marshall had made it one. He'd left. Removed the problem and left them to it.
And they'd still let Jess go out and die.
He didn't know who to be angrier with.
Kai took a deep breath. Let the cold sink into his lungs. Caught a whiff of something faint underneath the earth of the cave.
Unpleasant but not quite putrid. He'd smelled it before.
Kai stood for a while, looking into the cave where it stretched on and darkened. It might not be a person's body. Could be an animal.
Could be Jess for all he knew, but- no. The timing wouldn't work out. This place had been off-limits until just now.
Someone from the first day, then.
Morbid curiosity, maybe. Slowly, like the cave itself was a wild thing staring him down, Kai unzipped his bag and reached in, groping around until he found his flashlight. Clicked it on and aimed the wavering beam into the depths.
Nothing at first. Rocks. Bones. Definitely animal bones. Little by little, some of the immediate tension set in him by the faint smell released as he stepped forward, sweeping the flashlight beam back and forth.
And then spiked once more when the light brushed over the blank, dead face of Mallory Valdez.
Kai yelled out in shock before he could help himself, jerking back. The flashlight's beam danced wildly on the ceiling as he backpedaled away from the body. He came to a stop at the entrance, half in and half out. Heart in his throat.
He had known. He'd known what he was probably going to find. He'd still gone looking. Why?
He couldn't say. The same thing that drove a kid to poke a piece of roadkill with a stick. Just to see what would happen.
He felt almost... affronted. By the presence of the corpse. Like the dead girl was occupying some space that didn't belong to her. A space that he'd wanted, at any rate. Shelter. He could go back in and move her.
Kai hesitated at the mouth of the cave again, stomach twisted in knots, anger and frustration taken over with a sense of unease he couldn't fully quantify.
Floyd's Tomb
Open; Day 3 right after the announcement
Floyd's Tomb
"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."
(Dominiqua Ashmore, continued from These days of dishonourable peace)
The three of them had been traveling all day yesterday. Thankfully they hadn’t encountered anyone dangerous. However, the cold was brutal. They hadn’t been able to stop and rest since they left the infirmary. Night had come and gone as they made their way across the snowfield. To make matters worse, were the announcements that played after the sun came up.
Someone named Marian had died from the cold. It serves as a reminder that the weather was also a huge factor to consider.
Ingrid, someone Dominiqua swam and ran with, tried to escape the island by swimming, and had her collar detonated. Why? Just why? What possessed her to think that was a good idea?
Anyway, the three were fatigued. Dominiqua figured they should find somewhere to stop and rest. She looked at her map. According to the announcements, the cave was open again. And it was nearby.
“Hey, if you guys are okay with it, can we stop at the cave to rest?,” asked Dominiqua.
The three of them had been traveling all day yesterday. Thankfully they hadn’t encountered anyone dangerous. However, the cold was brutal. They hadn’t been able to stop and rest since they left the infirmary. Night had come and gone as they made their way across the snowfield. To make matters worse, were the announcements that played after the sun came up.
Someone named Marian had died from the cold. It serves as a reminder that the weather was also a huge factor to consider.
Ingrid, someone Dominiqua swam and ran with, tried to escape the island by swimming, and had her collar detonated. Why? Just why? What possessed her to think that was a good idea?
Anyway, the three were fatigued. Dominiqua figured they should find somewhere to stop and rest. She looked at her map. According to the announcements, the cave was open again. And it was nearby.
“Hey, if you guys are okay with it, can we stop at the cave to rest?,” asked Dominiqua.
-
midnight_twelve
- Posts: 207
- Joined: Wed Jan 06, 2021 12:00 pm
- Location: England, UK
The past 24 hours had not been kind to Fred’s leg. They’d been traipsing back and forth almost non-stop over the uneven terrain in the general direction of the town, though Fred suspected they must have gotten lost somewhere along the way for it to have taken this long. He didn’t dare protest. The willpower to keep going came easier than the willpower to ask for a rest from the man who’d threatened to leave him behind already.
It only set in just how long they’d been travelling when the second announcements rang out. Fred could have believed it was only just gone midnight or something with how early it got dark here, but this meant dawn was just around the corner. Everyday at 9:00, the terrorist had said. Kitty and Jezzie made the list again, but a couple of the new names were familiar for different reasons. He’d had an awkward conversation with Roberta earlier that year, crushed on Cedar from afar. Fred supposed the names would only get more familiar each day, if he lived to hear any more. Process of elimination or whatever, there were only so many strangers in their grade. Only so many Joshua Jameses, if that was even a real person and not just the terrorists trying to fuck with them.
Fred looked to DeMarcus to answer Dominiqua’s question. He’d been waiting ages for either of them to say what was on his own mind so he was relieved she made the suggestion, but it was worthless without DeMarcus’ approval.
It only set in just how long they’d been travelling when the second announcements rang out. Fred could have believed it was only just gone midnight or something with how early it got dark here, but this meant dawn was just around the corner. Everyday at 9:00, the terrorist had said. Kitty and Jezzie made the list again, but a couple of the new names were familiar for different reasons. He’d had an awkward conversation with Roberta earlier that year, crushed on Cedar from afar. Fred supposed the names would only get more familiar each day, if he lived to hear any more. Process of elimination or whatever, there were only so many strangers in their grade. Only so many Joshua Jameses, if that was even a real person and not just the terrorists trying to fuck with them.
Fred looked to DeMarcus to answer Dominiqua’s question. He’d been waiting ages for either of them to say what was on his own mind so he was relieved she made the suggestion, but it was worthless without DeMarcus’ approval.
Fredrick Stanley "Fred" Hobbes
Born 23rd April 2004 - Died 13th December 2021
“Do you think we were bad people, before we came here? Or just like, weak?”
Chloé Margot Delacroix
Born 21st November 2003 - Died 13th December 2021
“I am going to get everyone off of this island.”
V9 Planning Thread
get krabby, eat patties on discord
Born 23rd April 2004 - Died 13th December 2021
“Do you think we were bad people, before we came here? Or just like, weak?”
Chloé Margot Delacroix
Born 21st November 2003 - Died 13th December 2021
“I am going to get everyone off of this island.”
V9 Planning Thread
get krabby, eat patties on discord
DeMarcus had been brooding since the announcement. Whether it was the new names, the cold, or just the trickling confirmations of everything he believed and had come to know about the world and the psychotics that ran it, he was not in the mood to talk. He had even been too weary to growl curses or orders at Fred's injured, worthless ass. So as it was, when Dominiqua said something, he didn't entirely hear it.
He stopped, looked between the two of them, ever-present hand cannon numbing his right hand's fingers. "What?" He murmured.
He straightened, gathering himself. "Fuck does it matter? Even if somebody lives, that fake fucker Kirby is gonna put them down anyway. Shit isn't about terrorism. It's about dissent. And dealing with it."
It sounded right coming out of his mouth, and that feeling of rightness made him feel a little better.
He stopped, looked between the two of them, ever-present hand cannon numbing his right hand's fingers. "What?" He murmured.
He straightened, gathering himself. "Fuck does it matter? Even if somebody lives, that fake fucker Kirby is gonna put them down anyway. Shit isn't about terrorism. It's about dissent. And dealing with it."
It sounded right coming out of his mouth, and that feeling of rightness made him feel a little better.
Kai took a couple of minutes to steel himself, and then he stepped back into the cave. He knew what he was approaching this time, and he kept the flashlight beam carefully trained on the cave floor until Mallory's body came into view again. He turned the flashlight off and stowed it, blinking in the fresh darkness.
Then he knelt, took Mallory's stiff body by the arms, and began to drag her - it - back to the mouth of the cave.
Maybe he'd find something to cover her with. Give her a little bit of dignity. She'd been typically unpleasant in the few times they had crossed paths, but the idea of doing something for her felt better than leaving her there. Kai wasn't about to start trying to dig graves in the frozen ground, but he could at least cover Mallory's face.
The real reason for moving her was that being alone in the wild was the best way Kai knew to find peace. God knew he could use some of that right now. He could just hunker down in the cave for a bit and then get back out and search for Kitty some more. Hope that he managed to find her before things got even worse. And he didn't want to share real estate with a dead body.
Nothing could ever be simple, though. Kai emerged back outside with the corpse just in time for a new group of people to come into view. He froze, giving them a deer-in-headlights stare like he'd just been caught in the act of doing something wrong. Technically, he guessed he had been.
Then he knelt, took Mallory's stiff body by the arms, and began to drag her - it - back to the mouth of the cave.
Maybe he'd find something to cover her with. Give her a little bit of dignity. She'd been typically unpleasant in the few times they had crossed paths, but the idea of doing something for her felt better than leaving her there. Kai wasn't about to start trying to dig graves in the frozen ground, but he could at least cover Mallory's face.
The real reason for moving her was that being alone in the wild was the best way Kai knew to find peace. God knew he could use some of that right now. He could just hunker down in the cave for a bit and then get back out and search for Kitty some more. Hope that he managed to find her before things got even worse. And he didn't want to share real estate with a dead body.
Nothing could ever be simple, though. Kai emerged back outside with the corpse just in time for a new group of people to come into view. He froze, giving them a deer-in-headlights stare like he'd just been caught in the act of doing something wrong. Technically, he guessed he had been.
"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."
Dominiqua noticed a familiar face in the distance, distracting her from DeMarcus's response. It looked like...
"Kai! Kai is that you?," Dominiqua shouted.
Dominiqua felt relief. Kai and her had taken hikes together back home and he shared her love of the outdoors. He's a cool dude. She was sure she could trust him.
She then noticed the body he was dragging out of the cave. What was he doing with that? Did he...
"What are you doing?," Dominiqua asked.
"Kai! Kai is that you?," Dominiqua shouted.
Dominiqua felt relief. Kai and her had taken hikes together back home and he shared her love of the outdoors. He's a cool dude. She was sure she could trust him.
She then noticed the body he was dragging out of the cave. What was he doing with that? Did he...
"What are you doing?," Dominiqua asked.
-
midnight_twelve
- Posts: 207
- Joined: Wed Jan 06, 2021 12:00 pm
- Location: England, UK
“…huh?”
Fred couldn’t help himself; the response DeMarcus had given Dom was just so bizarre and out of left field. He winced immediately, regretting the opportunity he’d given DeMarcus to elaborate, but that was when Dom shouted Kai! and their attention was called to the cave entrance instead.
Fred had never bothered to get to know Kai; he was a loner and an outsider, so there was no social capital to be gained by gaining his good graces. He’d seen Kai hanging with Kitty though, which wasn’t a good reflection on his character, not in light of the announcement. Not to mention he was acting pretty suspicious, freezing up like that, and then Dominqua got suspicious too, and Fred followed her gaze down from the guy’s face to… someone else’s.
Moving faster than he thought possible on this leg, Fred sprung back three steps, putting DeMarcus and his gun between Kai and himself. He might have ran further, turned and sprinted back the way they came, but his fight or flight reflex changed its mind and he froze up just like Kai.
“Aw jeez. Aw man.”
A bead of sweat formed on his forehead and ran down between his eyes, causing them to twitch. One was fixed on Kai, the other on DeMarcus. If this situation was as bad as it looked, Fred was really counting on the crazy conspiracy theorist now.
Fred couldn’t help himself; the response DeMarcus had given Dom was just so bizarre and out of left field. He winced immediately, regretting the opportunity he’d given DeMarcus to elaborate, but that was when Dom shouted Kai! and their attention was called to the cave entrance instead.
Fred had never bothered to get to know Kai; he was a loner and an outsider, so there was no social capital to be gained by gaining his good graces. He’d seen Kai hanging with Kitty though, which wasn’t a good reflection on his character, not in light of the announcement. Not to mention he was acting pretty suspicious, freezing up like that, and then Dominqua got suspicious too, and Fred followed her gaze down from the guy’s face to… someone else’s.
Moving faster than he thought possible on this leg, Fred sprung back three steps, putting DeMarcus and his gun between Kai and himself. He might have ran further, turned and sprinted back the way they came, but his fight or flight reflex changed its mind and he froze up just like Kai.
“Aw jeez. Aw man.”
A bead of sweat formed on his forehead and ran down between his eyes, causing them to twitch. One was fixed on Kai, the other on DeMarcus. If this situation was as bad as it looked, Fred was really counting on the crazy conspiracy theorist now.
Fredrick Stanley "Fred" Hobbes
Born 23rd April 2004 - Died 13th December 2021
“Do you think we were bad people, before we came here? Or just like, weak?”
Chloé Margot Delacroix
Born 21st November 2003 - Died 13th December 2021
“I am going to get everyone off of this island.”
V9 Planning Thread
get krabby, eat patties on discord
Born 23rd April 2004 - Died 13th December 2021
“Do you think we were bad people, before we came here? Or just like, weak?”
Chloé Margot Delacroix
Born 21st November 2003 - Died 13th December 2021
“I am going to get everyone off of this island.”
V9 Planning Thread
get krabby, eat patties on discord
No one had any responses to DeMarcus's declarations of the truth. Not that they would have mattered. The guy coming out from the cave dragging a body provided more than enough foundation for new discourse.
DeMarcus snapped the gun up in both hands, leveling it at the cave-dweller. The hardness from before came back into his posture, his voice. "Dominiqua, get back." He growled through gritted teeth. He had a clean line; he was sure he could pop the kid from here. Dully, some voice in his head told him to calm down, to see if he remembered the kid's name and if it was on the announcements, but he was too wired to entertain discretion. His hands shook, ever so slightly.
"You cleaning up your mess?" He spat at the kid over the barrel of the Desert Eagle.
DeMarcus snapped the gun up in both hands, leveling it at the cave-dweller. The hardness from before came back into his posture, his voice. "Dominiqua, get back." He growled through gritted teeth. He had a clean line; he was sure he could pop the kid from here. Dully, some voice in his head told him to calm down, to see if he remembered the kid's name and if it was on the announcements, but he was too wired to entertain discretion. His hands shook, ever so slightly.
"You cleaning up your mess?" He spat at the kid over the barrel of the Desert Eagle.
"This. Isn't what it looks like," was the best Kai could manage in the face of the three people staring at him.
Dominiqua's presence was almost welcome. They weren't close, but she had joined him on the trail from time to time. She seemed to enjoy his company, for what it was worth.
Not much in the face of the two guys' reactions, Kai guessed. His most vivid memory of interacting with DeMarcus was the time in Spanish class that DeMarcus had gone on some rant about having to learn a second language and Hispanics wanting handouts. Kai had never figured out if he was being intentionally aggressive or if he just hadn't realized that Kai himself was also Hispanic. He didn't think he'd ever spoken to Fred at all.
He dropped Mallory's arms and slowly straightened up, keeping his hands visible and empty.
"She was already dead." His words felt weak and empty too in the face of the gun. When he had dared the others to shoot him yesterday, he hadn't been looking down a loaded barrel.
Dominiqua's presence was almost welcome. They weren't close, but she had joined him on the trail from time to time. She seemed to enjoy his company, for what it was worth.
Not much in the face of the two guys' reactions, Kai guessed. His most vivid memory of interacting with DeMarcus was the time in Spanish class that DeMarcus had gone on some rant about having to learn a second language and Hispanics wanting handouts. Kai had never figured out if he was being intentionally aggressive or if he just hadn't realized that Kai himself was also Hispanic. He didn't think he'd ever spoken to Fred at all.
He dropped Mallory's arms and slowly straightened up, keeping his hands visible and empty.
"She was already dead." His words felt weak and empty too in the face of the gun. When he had dared the others to shoot him yesterday, he hadn't been looking down a loaded barrel.
"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."
“Well, uh, okay then,” Dominiqua replied, perplexed.
She wasn’t entirely sure to trust Kai when he said that. However, she was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. She hadn’t heard his name on the morning announcements.
“I’m coming over,” she said, “So, don’t try anything funny.”
She looked over her shoulder to look at DeMarcus and Fred. DeMarcus had his gun out. She signaled to him to lower his weapon.
As she approached, she got a better look at the body. It looked way more grotesque up close (although, dead bodies in general can be considered grotesque). It also looked like this person had been dead for a while. Maybe this wasn’t Kai’s handiwork.
“If it helps, I have an extra jacket we can cover them with,” Dominiqua offered.
She wasn’t entirely sure to trust Kai when he said that. However, she was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. She hadn’t heard his name on the morning announcements.
“I’m coming over,” she said, “So, don’t try anything funny.”
She looked over her shoulder to look at DeMarcus and Fred. DeMarcus had his gun out. She signaled to him to lower his weapon.
As she approached, she got a better look at the body. It looked way more grotesque up close (although, dead bodies in general can be considered grotesque). It also looked like this person had been dead for a while. Maybe this wasn’t Kai’s handiwork.
“If it helps, I have an extra jacket we can cover them with,” Dominiqua offered.
-
midnight_twelve
- Posts: 207
- Joined: Wed Jan 06, 2021 12:00 pm
- Location: England, UK
“Maybe he’s telling the truth…” Fred mumbled, barely audible. “He’d have had to kill her really recently to not make the announcements, right?”
It had only been minutes since the announcement, sure, but Kai still had his hands on the body, so it wasn’t impossible. Maybe he waited until the second it finished to keep his murder secret for as long as possible. Fred didn’t want to get any closer, and he couldn’t tell who the victim was from this distance, so he couldn’t be sure whether theirs had been a recent murder or not. Wasn’t the cave off limits all through yesterday? Another bead of sweat formed, this one rolling down his cheek like a tear. Then there was the fact Kai might not be innocent even if he didn’t personally kill anyone. Maybe this was one of his psycho friend Kitty’s kills and he was helping her dispose of the body. Maybe she was waiting for them just inside the cave, ready to pounce.
“Let’s just leave.” He begged, even quieter.
It had only been minutes since the announcement, sure, but Kai still had his hands on the body, so it wasn’t impossible. Maybe he waited until the second it finished to keep his murder secret for as long as possible. Fred didn’t want to get any closer, and he couldn’t tell who the victim was from this distance, so he couldn’t be sure whether theirs had been a recent murder or not. Wasn’t the cave off limits all through yesterday? Another bead of sweat formed, this one rolling down his cheek like a tear. Then there was the fact Kai might not be innocent even if he didn’t personally kill anyone. Maybe this was one of his psycho friend Kitty’s kills and he was helping her dispose of the body. Maybe she was waiting for them just inside the cave, ready to pounce.
“Let’s just leave.” He begged, even quieter.
Fredrick Stanley "Fred" Hobbes
Born 23rd April 2004 - Died 13th December 2021
“Do you think we were bad people, before we came here? Or just like, weak?”
Chloé Margot Delacroix
Born 21st November 2003 - Died 13th December 2021
“I am going to get everyone off of this island.”
V9 Planning Thread
get krabby, eat patties on discord
Born 23rd April 2004 - Died 13th December 2021
“Do you think we were bad people, before we came here? Or just like, weak?”
Chloé Margot Delacroix
Born 21st November 2003 - Died 13th December 2021
“I am going to get everyone off of this island.”
V9 Planning Thread
get krabby, eat patties on discord
Dominiqua was really just gonna take the kid at his word. Soon as he said something, oop, off she went. DeMarcus wondered how fucking long she thought she was gonna live, thinking like that. She gave DeMarcus a signal but he dropped the weapon maybe an inch as she sidled over. He took a few steps closer, not to help out, but to make aiming at Kai a little easier.
Fred, now Fred? He seemed to be a little more on the ball. He had a point. The boy could have just freshly killed whoever it was on the ground. Or...
"For all we fuckin' know he's working with the people who put us here." DeMarcus said. His voiced rose up in that way that it did when he felt like he was onto something.
"They wanted that somebody over there dead in particular and so they have a plant. Yeah, a fuckin' mole."
The logic of it, the truth, none of that mattered. What mattered was that it all felt right. What mattered was that it sounded correct.
DeMarcus's thumb pulled the Desert Eagle's hammer back with an audible click.
Fred, now Fred? He seemed to be a little more on the ball. He had a point. The boy could have just freshly killed whoever it was on the ground. Or...
"For all we fuckin' know he's working with the people who put us here." DeMarcus said. His voiced rose up in that way that it did when he felt like he was onto something.
"They wanted that somebody over there dead in particular and so they have a plant. Yeah, a fuckin' mole."
The logic of it, the truth, none of that mattered. What mattered was that it all felt right. What mattered was that it sounded correct.
DeMarcus's thumb pulled the Desert Eagle's hammer back with an audible click.
"What."
Kai couldn't help blurting out in utter disbelief, reeling from the sudden turn things had taken. The suspicion he understood. He could see how this looked. The rest was complete unprompted insanity.
The click of the gun spurred him to move when words didn't. There was obviously no reasoning with this, and they needed to be out of here now. He wasn't about to argue with a gun when the person holding it was completely disconnected from reality. Kai grabbed for Dominiqua's arm when she got within reach, intending to either drag her into the cave or bolt in another direction.
Yesterday he'd resorted to fight. This moment belonged to flight. Direction didn't really matter.
Kai couldn't help blurting out in utter disbelief, reeling from the sudden turn things had taken. The suspicion he understood. He could see how this looked. The rest was complete unprompted insanity.
The click of the gun spurred him to move when words didn't. There was obviously no reasoning with this, and they needed to be out of here now. He wasn't about to argue with a gun when the person holding it was completely disconnected from reality. Kai grabbed for Dominiqua's arm when she got within reach, intending to either drag her into the cave or bolt in another direction.
Yesterday he'd resorted to fight. This moment belonged to flight. Direction didn't really matter.
"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."
“Dude! Seriously!?,” Dominiqua shouted at DeMarcus.
He was really pulling this right wing conspiracy crap now? How was Kai supposed to trust them if he was being accused as an insider for the terrorists? Dominiqua turned around to face DeMarcus.
“That’s the dumbest shit you’ve said all day!,” Dominiqua shouted again.
Suddenly, there was a loud bang and she felt a heavy impact hit her chest. Then she felt weightless. Her vision went from DeMarcus and Fred to the sky, as she started to fall backwards.
He was really pulling this right wing conspiracy crap now? How was Kai supposed to trust them if he was being accused as an insider for the terrorists? Dominiqua turned around to face DeMarcus.
“That’s the dumbest shit you’ve said all day!,” Dominiqua shouted again.
Suddenly, there was a loud bang and she felt a heavy impact hit her chest. Then she felt weightless. Her vision went from DeMarcus and Fred to the sky, as she started to fall backwards.
He pulled the trigger before he even realized it. Dominiqua was shouting, berating DeMarcus, then Kai was grabbing for her. DeMarcus would never be sure if he fired the shot because he was not about to be rebuked for being the only one thinking here, or because Kai's lunge for Dominiqua startled him into blindly shooting.
The gun bucked in his hands and he watched Dominiqua drop. He stared as she fell, the turn of events having robbed him of the bluster from before. He took a deep breath and it hitched; it took some effort blow the air out of his lungs. His eyes flickered to Kai, and the weapon followed their lead.
The gun bucked in his hands and he watched Dominiqua drop. He stared as she fell, the turn of events having robbed him of the bluster from before. He took a deep breath and it hitched; it took some effort blow the air out of his lungs. His eyes flickered to Kai, and the weapon followed their lead.