"No," Kai said after a moment's pause. "Not really. Not today, anyway." He wasn't much of a liar, but it wasn't really a lie.
The thing about the announcements was that they always said just enough to leave you guessing. Daenerys's name had come up enough that Kai could maybe guess that these two were like Lily. Only going after killers. Derek had killed one of the several Betties running around in their class, but Kai couldn't remember if it was the same one that had killed on the first day. Too much had happened since then. Names and accusations and the dead blurred together in his mind.
All except for those he'd seen for himself.
"I'm not- really looking for company," he said slowly. "So I'm just going to head this way, and you guys head that way." He gestured down the opposite turn with his flashlight. "Good?"
He needed them to turn away before he fully backed off and his light revealed Kitty lurking in the dark behind him.
And No Lessons Were Learned
Day 7 (Private)
"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."
Chiara's gaze continued to wander around the tunnels. Because of where Derek and the other boy were pointing their flashlights, Chiara couldn't fully make out the surrounding area. Whoever was with the boy hadn't made themselves known, so maybe they had slipped away when Derek made noise. The boy seemed willing to just let everyone go their separate ways, and she was starting to find that fine as well.
Chiara rubbed her eyes with her free hand. Her eyes were starting to feel a bit strained down here from the pitch darkness and the limited light coming off the flashlights. She shrugged a bit to adjust her bag strap, moving the hand holding the revolver up a bit as she did.
She looked to Derek as she got herself together, hoping he would agree to the other boy's request and they could continue moving down the tunnels.
Chiara rubbed her eyes with her free hand. Her eyes were starting to feel a bit strained down here from the pitch darkness and the limited light coming off the flashlights. She shrugged a bit to adjust her bag strap, moving the hand holding the revolver up a bit as she did.
She looked to Derek as she got herself together, hoping he would agree to the other boy's request and they could continue moving down the tunnels.
-
DerArknight
- Posts: 485
- Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2021 10:52 am
Kai talked to them slightly nervous, but who wouldn't be nervous in a situation like this?
All Derek had to do was to agree and make way, and it would be just another random run-in like back on the first day, when Lara briefly visited them in the garages.
If only it wasn't for the second voice, Derek would have gladly accepted.
Once they let Kai pass in the direction he indicated, Kai would be behind them while his hhiding companion was somewhere in front of them. A perfect pincher manoveur. Maybe this was just Derek overthinking the other boy's intentions. Maybe Kai's friend was just scared by the strangers. Maybe there was another, silly reason. There were a thousand reasons for someone to hide from others on this island. Damn, he and Chiara had basically done nothing else but trying to avoid people.
But did he really want to risk his and Chiara's life for a maybe?
"Listen, I get you," Derek spoke slowly, trying to sound non-chalant. "This whole situation surely is no place to make friends. No one wants to risk a knife in the back."
Suddenly, Derek unholstered his gun, raising it before Kai could do the same.
"So in the name of risk-prevention, how about you tell your friend to come out so we don't have to worry about surprises?"
His finger was nowhere near the trigger and the firearm was shaking, but in the darkness such details would hopefully be missed.
All Derek had to do was to agree and make way, and it would be just another random run-in like back on the first day, when Lara briefly visited them in the garages.
If only it wasn't for the second voice, Derek would have gladly accepted.
Once they let Kai pass in the direction he indicated, Kai would be behind them while his hhiding companion was somewhere in front of them. A perfect pincher manoveur. Maybe this was just Derek overthinking the other boy's intentions. Maybe Kai's friend was just scared by the strangers. Maybe there was another, silly reason. There were a thousand reasons for someone to hide from others on this island. Damn, he and Chiara had basically done nothing else but trying to avoid people.
But did he really want to risk his and Chiara's life for a maybe?
"Listen, I get you," Derek spoke slowly, trying to sound non-chalant. "This whole situation surely is no place to make friends. No one wants to risk a knife in the back."
Suddenly, Derek unholstered his gun, raising it before Kai could do the same.
"So in the name of risk-prevention, how about you tell your friend to come out so we don't have to worry about surprises?"
His finger was nowhere near the trigger and the firearm was shaking, but in the darkness such details would hopefully be missed.
-
VoltTurtle
- Posts: 1545
- Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2018 4:10 pm
- Location: Dreamland
It is unwise to startle a beast and drive it into a corner. When all other options were rendered infeasible, then it would have no choice but to fight you with tooth and claw to its very last breath.
In the shadows, just out of sight, the beast snaked silently along the wall towards its prey. It gazed upon them, measuring them, forming a plan to pick them apart.
Derek was the threat, but Chiara was closer. She wasn't looking towards the monster gradually creeping towards her, preparing to pounce. Kai was close enough that, once Derek's attention was drawn away from him, he would be able to close the distance.
Eyes like daggers in the dark, it made its move. One step closer, and one lunge away.
In the shadows, just out of sight, the beast snaked silently along the wall towards its prey. It gazed upon them, measuring them, forming a plan to pick them apart.
Derek was the threat, but Chiara was closer. She wasn't looking towards the monster gradually creeping towards her, preparing to pounce. Kai was close enough that, once Derek's attention was drawn away from him, he would be able to close the distance.
Eyes like daggers in the dark, it made its move. One step closer, and one lunge away.
And then the gun came up.
Kai still had the shotgun, but it wasn't in his hands. He had the flashlight in one, the umbrella in the other. "I- there's not-" He sputtered, but the lie wouldn't come together in the face of the gun.
He would have sworn that he felt more than heard Kitty shift in the dark and he knew.
Kai still had the shotgun, but it wasn't in his hands. He had the flashlight in one, the umbrella in the other. "I- there's not-" He sputtered, but the lie wouldn't come together in the face of the gun.
He would have sworn that he felt more than heard Kitty shift in the dark and he knew.
"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."
-
DerArknight
- Posts: 485
- Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2021 10:52 am
Derek's course of action was risky, but it payed off big time.
Kai's companion showed themselves, hands raised in the air. It turned out they had just been hiding out of fear, not for some nefarious intentions.
The two groups were still at odds, but neither wanted to escalate, so they parted ways peacefully.
((Derek Caldwell continued elsewhere))
V8
S007 Derek Caldwell Pregame: 1 / 2 / 3 V8: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9
S026 Dawn Montogomery Memories: 1 Pregame: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 V8: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8
S076 Daenerys "D" Todd Pregame: 1 V8: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 [72/134]
S106 Ethan Kemp Memories: 1 Pregame: 1 / 2 V8: 1 [132/134]
S116 Quentin B. Skinner Memories: 1 Pregame: 1 / 2 / 3 V8: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 [94/134]
At least, that was what happened in an alternate universe.
In the timeline we are following, Derek caught a glimpse of someone small moving through the shadows.
Moving towards Chiara.
"STOP RIGHT THERE!"
His gun switched targets.
Kai's companion showed themselves, hands raised in the air. It turned out they had just been hiding out of fear, not for some nefarious intentions.
The two groups were still at odds, but neither wanted to escalate, so they parted ways peacefully.
((Derek Caldwell continued elsewhere))
V8
S007 Derek Caldwell Pregame: 1 / 2 / 3 V8: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9
S026 Dawn Montogomery Memories: 1 Pregame: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 V8: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8
S076 Daenerys "D" Todd Pregame: 1 V8: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 [72/134]
S106 Ethan Kemp Memories: 1 Pregame: 1 / 2 V8: 1 [132/134]
S116 Quentin B. Skinner Memories: 1 Pregame: 1 / 2 / 3 V8: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 [94/134]
At least, that was what happened in an alternate universe.
In the timeline we are following, Derek caught a glimpse of someone small moving through the shadows.
Moving towards Chiara.
"STOP RIGHT THERE!"
His gun switched targets.
Just like last time. Just like every time. In the span of a few seconds, everything went to hell.
Kai saw in snapshots. The gun swinging away from him. A blur in the corner of his vision that had to be Kitty. Derek's expression twisting from suspicion into something harder and colder.
Then everything went out of clear focus as Derek shouted and Kai threw the flashlight and umbrella down and lunged, grabbing for Derek's arm to try to wrest the gun from him or at least shove it away. He clamped onto Derek's forearm with one hand, his face with the other. There was little rhyme or reason to it, so strategy whatsoever besides keeping the gun pointed away from himself and Kitty. A split-second choice, like planting himself in front of the shotgun the day before.
Behind him, he heard the consequences of that choice.
Kai saw in snapshots. The gun swinging away from him. A blur in the corner of his vision that had to be Kitty. Derek's expression twisting from suspicion into something harder and colder.
Then everything went out of clear focus as Derek shouted and Kai threw the flashlight and umbrella down and lunged, grabbing for Derek's arm to try to wrest the gun from him or at least shove it away. He clamped onto Derek's forearm with one hand, his face with the other. There was little rhyme or reason to it, so strategy whatsoever besides keeping the gun pointed away from himself and Kitty. A split-second choice, like planting himself in front of the shotgun the day before.
Behind him, he heard the consequences of that choice.
"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."
Chiara remained silent as Derek spoke to the boy. Derek was asking for the boy's companion to come out so they could at least see who it was. Chiara's gaze continued to drift around the tunnels, trying to figure out where that other person went. She continued to blink to try and adjust to the area.
Before she could finally hone in on where the second person was, she noticed Derek was holding a gun to the boy. And that's when she heard someone else moving through the tunnels. Suddenly, Derek was shouting and aiming at Chiara. Before the lights moved, Chiara saw the boy pull Derek's gun away and grab him.
Chiara quickly snapped towards the direction Derek was aiming. She could hardly see, but it was clear someone was over there and coming towards her.
She quickly raised her own gun and fired a few shots in that direction. In each flash of gunfire, she could briefly make out the figure of a girl charging towards her. She just had to hope she stopped the girl in each flash.
Before she could finally hone in on where the second person was, she noticed Derek was holding a gun to the boy. And that's when she heard someone else moving through the tunnels. Suddenly, Derek was shouting and aiming at Chiara. Before the lights moved, Chiara saw the boy pull Derek's gun away and grab him.
Chiara quickly snapped towards the direction Derek was aiming. She could hardly see, but it was clear someone was over there and coming towards her.
She quickly raised her own gun and fired a few shots in that direction. In each flash of gunfire, she could briefly make out the figure of a girl charging towards her. She just had to hope she stopped the girl in each flash.
-
VoltTurtle
- Posts: 1545
- Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2018 4:10 pm
- Location: Dreamland
She had been spotted. Kai had gotten control of Derek. Chiara's gun was being pointed at her.
Very little was running through her head as the fight roared into being. Everything fell away except her, and her target. It was terrifying, but at least it was a hell of her own choosing.
On instinct honed by years of fighting with her older sister, she twisted and ducked to try and throw off Chiara's aim. When the first shot came out, it had the mercy to deafen her, leaving no sound behind except a high-pitched ringing. The second went entirely wide. The third she felt rip through her bandaged cheek, igniting the struck nerves in a blaze of pain and causing a stream of warm blood to ooze down her face. It did not stop her, only making her more ferocious. After all, she had been through worse.
Katelyn pounced, disallowing a fourth shot by slamming her knees into the other girl's chest and bringing them both to the ground. One hand pinned Chiara's gun arm to the concrete. The other, with the knife, did what came naturally.
One wild stab came down and the blade ripped out, with more soon to follow. In the rush, she didn't have time to aim for vitals, just viciously and coldly sinking the knife into flesh again and again and again.
Very little was running through her head as the fight roared into being. Everything fell away except her, and her target. It was terrifying, but at least it was a hell of her own choosing.
On instinct honed by years of fighting with her older sister, she twisted and ducked to try and throw off Chiara's aim. When the first shot came out, it had the mercy to deafen her, leaving no sound behind except a high-pitched ringing. The second went entirely wide. The third she felt rip through her bandaged cheek, igniting the struck nerves in a blaze of pain and causing a stream of warm blood to ooze down her face. It did not stop her, only making her more ferocious. After all, she had been through worse.
Katelyn pounced, disallowing a fourth shot by slamming her knees into the other girl's chest and bringing them both to the ground. One hand pinned Chiara's gun arm to the concrete. The other, with the knife, did what came naturally.
One wild stab came down and the blade ripped out, with more soon to follow. In the rush, she didn't have time to aim for vitals, just viciously and coldly sinking the knife into flesh again and again and again.
-
DerArknight
- Posts: 485
- Joined: Sat Mar 06, 2021 10:52 am
It all happened way too fast.
Just as Derek finished shouting, Kai sprang into action, giving Derek no time to switch targets again before the large boy almost rammed into him, ripping on his arm like a gambling addict on a slot machine. And indeed, it caused a reaction as the weapon spat out its first of six bullets. It riccochetted on several walls before getting stuck somewhere.
Kai's second hand went for Derek's face. Instinctively, Derek raised his right hand to deflect. His flashlight, already shaking from being held by only two fingers, slipped out of his grasp. With both boys having dropped the only light sources, things became a lot more darker as several shots rang out, hopefully signalling Chiara making swiss cheese out of whoever had teamed up with Kai for reasons Derek couldn't afford to care right now. Because right now, Kai was darting around him. Before Derek could grasp the situation, the other boy slung an arm around his neck from behind and applied pressure, almost lifting Derek from the ground with his superior height.
Attempting to chocke the life out of him while Derek fruitlessly flailed around, unable to connect a punch that would loosen the grip.
No!
This couldn't be the end. Derek had to get out of here, get away from this hellhole. Back at the other hellhole called home, Abel needed him. He couldn't afford to die here!
Somehow the revolver had remained in his hand during all of this. Narrowly Derek managed to cock the hammer, putting a new bullet into the chamber.
Then he raised his arm, aimed where he guessed Kai's head was and pulled the trigger.
Just as Derek finished shouting, Kai sprang into action, giving Derek no time to switch targets again before the large boy almost rammed into him, ripping on his arm like a gambling addict on a slot machine. And indeed, it caused a reaction as the weapon spat out its first of six bullets. It riccochetted on several walls before getting stuck somewhere.
Kai's second hand went for Derek's face. Instinctively, Derek raised his right hand to deflect. His flashlight, already shaking from being held by only two fingers, slipped out of his grasp. With both boys having dropped the only light sources, things became a lot more darker as several shots rang out, hopefully signalling Chiara making swiss cheese out of whoever had teamed up with Kai for reasons Derek couldn't afford to care right now. Because right now, Kai was darting around him. Before Derek could grasp the situation, the other boy slung an arm around his neck from behind and applied pressure, almost lifting Derek from the ground with his superior height.
Attempting to chocke the life out of him while Derek fruitlessly flailed around, unable to connect a punch that would loosen the grip.
No!
This couldn't be the end. Derek had to get out of here, get away from this hellhole. Back at the other hellhole called home, Abel needed him. He couldn't afford to die here!
Somehow the revolver had remained in his hand during all of this. Narrowly Derek managed to cock the hammer, putting a new bullet into the chamber.
Then he raised his arm, aimed where he guessed Kai's head was and pulled the trigger.
One clear thought passed through Kai's mind as he and Derek struggled for control of the gun: he didn't think he'd ever get used to the way that he could feel gunshots impact other bodies. No matter which end of the gun they were on, it was disconcerting and wrong to be so aware of the force moving through someone else's skin, muscle, and bone.
Aside from that thought, everything was a tangled rush of panic and noise in the dark. Kai wrenched Derek's arm around in his efforts to keep the gun pointed away from himself and Kitty. Managed to create just enough space to slide around him, throw his other arm around Derek's neck instead of grappling at his face and possibly gouging an eye. Even in the heat of the moment, the fleeting thought of that made Kai's stomach turn.
"Stop!" He grunted in Derek's ear. Tried to pretend he couldn't hear what was happening nearby. Felt like he was begging Kitty as much as anyone else. "Just stop, ple-"
Lost his grip on Derek's sleeve. Didn't need to see to catch the swing of the gun up near his face.
Kai's head and upper body jerked back and away from the gunshot, and the seize of his body yanked Derek's head sharply back with him.
Under the crook of his elbow, something in Derek's throat popped.
Aside from that thought, everything was a tangled rush of panic and noise in the dark. Kai wrenched Derek's arm around in his efforts to keep the gun pointed away from himself and Kitty. Managed to create just enough space to slide around him, throw his other arm around Derek's neck instead of grappling at his face and possibly gouging an eye. Even in the heat of the moment, the fleeting thought of that made Kai's stomach turn.
"Stop!" He grunted in Derek's ear. Tried to pretend he couldn't hear what was happening nearby. Felt like he was begging Kitty as much as anyone else. "Just stop, ple-"
Lost his grip on Derek's sleeve. Didn't need to see to catch the swing of the gun up near his face.
Kai's head and upper body jerked back and away from the gunshot, and the seize of his body yanked Derek's head sharply back with him.
Under the crook of his elbow, something in Derek's throat popped.
"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."
Chiara was certain one of the shots hit the figure who was charging at her. She was hopeful for a moment that she had stopped the girl, but the sudden collision told Chiara that she had actually failed to stop the girl.
Chiara was suddenly falling back onto the tunnel floors. The back of her head hit the ground fairly hard, causing her to cry out in pain. Before she could do anything else, she could feel a hand pinning her hand that held the Nagant down.
Then there was pain. Lots and lots of pain.
Chiara cried out with each stab to her torso. She could hear struggling and gunshots next to her from Derek, but she couldn't focus on them. Her hand loosened the grip on the revolver. She couldn't raise her arm if she wanted to, so she let it go.
Finally, the girl stopped stabbing Chiara, causing her to cry out again as her mouth filled with blood. She tried to turn over a bit, her gaze focusing on one of the fallen flashlights.
Her eyes widened as she saw Derek on the ground as well. She must have missed when he fell, but he was on the ground as well, and he looked to be seriously hurt as well.
Chiara tried to pull herself over to him, forgoing to gun as she reached out to her friend. She had spent the last week taking care of him, making sure he was okay. This was worse than what happened to his fingers, and even though she was bleeding all over the floor and starting to cry, she couldn't help but focus on him.
"Der...ek..." she gurgled out.
Chiara was suddenly falling back onto the tunnel floors. The back of her head hit the ground fairly hard, causing her to cry out in pain. Before she could do anything else, she could feel a hand pinning her hand that held the Nagant down.
Then there was pain. Lots and lots of pain.
Chiara cried out with each stab to her torso. She could hear struggling and gunshots next to her from Derek, but she couldn't focus on them. Her hand loosened the grip on the revolver. She couldn't raise her arm if she wanted to, so she let it go.
Finally, the girl stopped stabbing Chiara, causing her to cry out again as her mouth filled with blood. She tried to turn over a bit, her gaze focusing on one of the fallen flashlights.
Her eyes widened as she saw Derek on the ground as well. She must have missed when he fell, but he was on the ground as well, and he looked to be seriously hurt as well.
Chiara tried to pull herself over to him, forgoing to gun as she reached out to her friend. She had spent the last week taking care of him, making sure he was okay. This was worse than what happened to his fingers, and even though she was bleeding all over the floor and starting to cry, she couldn't help but focus on him.
"Der...ek..." she gurgled out.
-
VoltTurtle
- Posts: 1545
- Joined: Fri Aug 10, 2018 4:10 pm
- Location: Dreamland
Chiara's plea was silenced by the knife tearing into her throat.
The hunter stood up from its latest victim, its eyes empty and its head full of noise. Pain nibbled at its flesh as blood continued to ooze down its face, the malodorous metallic scent of sanguine death once again filling its nostrils. Deaf to all but its most violent instincts, the ringing in its ears grew from a whisper to a roar. Without a word or even a hint of recognition, it started to shamble towards the fallen Derek like the walking dead. It raised its blade into the air, ready to deal the finishing blow.
Only, it felt another hand grasp its wrist, and when its eyes met his, Katelyn started to come back to herself.
The hunter stood up from its latest victim, its eyes empty and its head full of noise. Pain nibbled at its flesh as blood continued to ooze down its face, the malodorous metallic scent of sanguine death once again filling its nostrils. Deaf to all but its most violent instincts, the ringing in its ears grew from a whisper to a roar. Without a word or even a hint of recognition, it started to shamble towards the fallen Derek like the walking dead. It raised its blade into the air, ready to deal the finishing blow.
Only, it felt another hand grasp its wrist, and when its eyes met his, Katelyn started to come back to herself.
Kai wanted to say that everything kept happening too fast, or that it started going in slow-motion. Something to imply that he wasn't fully aware of what was going on. Something that might make it harder to remember later.
That wasn't the case.
He was barely aware of the crack of Derek's neck, or throat, or whatever, but he felt it when Derek went limp in his arms. His ears were ringing too much to hear the gun clatter to the ground, but he felt it land near his foot. As soon as Kai processed what was happening, he let go completely and quickly stepped back.
If it had just been a ploy, that probably would have gotten him killed. He probably wasn't ever going to settle on a firm answer as to whether he wished it had been.
When Kai released him, Derek simply flopped to the ground like a ragdoll. He didn't grab for the gun. He didn't try to get up and run away. All Kai could do in the sudden quiet was stare at his crumpled form with slowly dawning comprehension and horror.
As the ringing in his ears cleared, he could just barely make out the wheeze that signified Derek was still breathing.
Kitty snapped him out of it in maybe the worst way. Passing by his side with the knife at the ready, all Kai could think to do was grab her arm to pull her back.
"Stop," he said hoarsely. Too late. Always too late.
That wasn't the case.
He was barely aware of the crack of Derek's neck, or throat, or whatever, but he felt it when Derek went limp in his arms. His ears were ringing too much to hear the gun clatter to the ground, but he felt it land near his foot. As soon as Kai processed what was happening, he let go completely and quickly stepped back.
If it had just been a ploy, that probably would have gotten him killed. He probably wasn't ever going to settle on a firm answer as to whether he wished it had been.
When Kai released him, Derek simply flopped to the ground like a ragdoll. He didn't grab for the gun. He didn't try to get up and run away. All Kai could do in the sudden quiet was stare at his crumpled form with slowly dawning comprehension and horror.
As the ringing in his ears cleared, he could just barely make out the wheeze that signified Derek was still breathing.
Kitty snapped him out of it in maybe the worst way. Passing by his side with the knife at the ready, all Kai could think to do was grab her arm to pull her back.
"Stop," he said hoarsely. Too late. Always too late.
"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."
Ever since she was a child, Chiara Masina always preferred being on her own. She never really sought the companionship of others around her age, nor did she ever really feel lonely as a result. As long as she was able to read or draw, she was happy. She could play with her younger sisters if they asked and it wouldn't bother her, as it was simply her role as an older sister to do so. Her parents were a bit worried about this, but were assuaged by the idea that she was just introverted and could show more extroverted characteristics if put in the right environment. Thankfully, fashion and makeup were enough of a creative outlet to really express herself.
It wasn't until the family left Verona for Salem that she found a new issue. Although she had no trouble speaking English, her northern Italian accent was fairly strong compared to her sisters. Perhaps it was from the influence of her grandparents, but either way, it definitely stuck out in her new town and country. All the more reason to continue on without speaking to anyone. Her family spoke a mix of English and Italian at home, so it wasn't really noticeable to them that she had a complex about this. If she spoke slowly and lowly enough, she could at least try to manage her accent and sound somewhat decent when speaking to other Americans. But it meant that she had to go silent for all her makeup videos. At least that gave her an edge against other online MUAs.
Even on the island, Chiara still didn't find it in her to speak. Sure, it meant she and Derek spent the last week going through traumatic situations and sitting in silence, but she still didn't find much of a need to talk. Derek was good at filling the void, and he didn't say much to spur deep conversations.
It was only in this moment that Chiara wished she wasn't such a coward.
Derek had been her ally, companion, confidant, and friend for the past week. This should have been the time to finally throw the fear away and make an effort to truly connect with someone. There was so much they could have talked about. Her favorite food (agnolotti), her favorite movie (La Strada), her favorite singer (Rafaella Carra, of course); all of these were things she could have told Derek over the past week.
But now here they were, laying on the floors of the tunnel, Chiara with several stab wounds to the chest, and Derek with something horribly wrong with his neck. Chiara was still reaching out to him, trying desperately to speak to him as blood filled her mouth and tears fell from her eyes.
"Der...ek...I..."
And with a single stab to the throat, Chiara Masina never spoke again. Even she wasn't sure what she wanted to say then.
"I'm glad I met you?"
"I'm sorry?"
"'I'll save you?"
No one would ever know. It was just another statement left unsaid.
It wasn't until the family left Verona for Salem that she found a new issue. Although she had no trouble speaking English, her northern Italian accent was fairly strong compared to her sisters. Perhaps it was from the influence of her grandparents, but either way, it definitely stuck out in her new town and country. All the more reason to continue on without speaking to anyone. Her family spoke a mix of English and Italian at home, so it wasn't really noticeable to them that she had a complex about this. If she spoke slowly and lowly enough, she could at least try to manage her accent and sound somewhat decent when speaking to other Americans. But it meant that she had to go silent for all her makeup videos. At least that gave her an edge against other online MUAs.
Even on the island, Chiara still didn't find it in her to speak. Sure, it meant she and Derek spent the last week going through traumatic situations and sitting in silence, but she still didn't find much of a need to talk. Derek was good at filling the void, and he didn't say much to spur deep conversations.
It was only in this moment that Chiara wished she wasn't such a coward.
Derek had been her ally, companion, confidant, and friend for the past week. This should have been the time to finally throw the fear away and make an effort to truly connect with someone. There was so much they could have talked about. Her favorite food (agnolotti), her favorite movie (La Strada), her favorite singer (Rafaella Carra, of course); all of these were things she could have told Derek over the past week.
But now here they were, laying on the floors of the tunnel, Chiara with several stab wounds to the chest, and Derek with something horribly wrong with his neck. Chiara was still reaching out to him, trying desperately to speak to him as blood filled her mouth and tears fell from her eyes.
"Der...ek...I..."
And with a single stab to the throat, Chiara Masina never spoke again. Even she wasn't sure what she wanted to say then.
"I'm glad I met you?"
"I'm sorry?"
"'I'll save you?"
No one would ever know. It was just another statement left unsaid.
G030 CHIARA MASINA: DECEASED