"So, you were at, uh, the research station?" Madeleine cautiously asked. She didn't want to go anywhere near where some psycho was snapping people's necks, so once everyone was good they could swing the opposite way from where Connie had seen the dead body.
God, this still felt like a bad dream. Any minute now she'd wake up still strapped into the seat on her bus next to the window. She could stare out at the world going by, maybe tell some of her friends about the weird ass dream she'd had in between skiing once they had got there. She could forget it, put it behind her.
But the cold was all too real. The whistle of the wind whooshing through the trees was real.
"I guess once that terrorist freak does his announcement thing, we'll know what happened to her."
Shutdown
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Applesintime
- Posts: 471
- Joined: Fri Jul 03, 2020 8:46 pm
- Location: In a magical place
"O-oh, okay then..." replied Cassie, briefly glancing back at Connie before turning back to the window, wanting to keep an eye on the treeline for any signs of movement.
They still hadn't been told much about where exactly Olive was, or more importantly how far away Connie had found her, but she assumed that if it was really close that she would've said so by now. Which hopefully meant that whoever was responsible was hopefully far away by now, doing god knows what elsewhere.
Kelsey... Dawn...
Cassie would briefly look back out the frozen lake, glancing down at the ice skate she was gripping tightly to her chest. She couldn't help but wonder if she'd been put here deliberately, knowing what she'd been assigned, with the hopes that she'd maybe take the opportunity to use those ice skates as intended. She wasn't too sure what good it would do her to try them out, other than maybe using them as a means to escape danger, even then at her skill level she was probably better off running or hiding than trying to skate away to safety.
She'd take a deep breath to try and steady herself, looking away from the window to focus back on the conversation. As Madeline said, whatever queries they had about Olive, they should know for certain once the announcement was made.
Assuming of course that Olive really was dead, as they only had Connie's word to go on that...
They still hadn't been told much about where exactly Olive was, or more importantly how far away Connie had found her, but she assumed that if it was really close that she would've said so by now. Which hopefully meant that whoever was responsible was hopefully far away by now, doing god knows what elsewhere.
Kelsey... Dawn...
Cassie would briefly look back out the frozen lake, glancing down at the ice skate she was gripping tightly to her chest. She couldn't help but wonder if she'd been put here deliberately, knowing what she'd been assigned, with the hopes that she'd maybe take the opportunity to use those ice skates as intended. She wasn't too sure what good it would do her to try them out, other than maybe using them as a means to escape danger, even then at her skill level she was probably better off running or hiding than trying to skate away to safety.
She'd take a deep breath to try and steady herself, looking away from the window to focus back on the conversation. As Madeline said, whatever queries they had about Olive, they should know for certain once the announcement was made.
Assuming of course that Olive really was dead, as they only had Connie's word to go on that...
"She wasn't really at anywhere specifically."
Connie racked her brain for some more details of the locale. She'd been a bit too preoccupied to bother checking over her map, what with a thousand thoughts flying through her head at once, five hundred of them being about Olive. As she glanced to the side, she realised that, conveniently, there was a map laid out on the table right next to her. Oh. Well then.
She slid off the table and turned to the map. Okay, so if they were all up here right now... she put a finger onto the map and then traced northeast. Right. Alright. She was oriented.
Connie looked back at the others. "Yeah, opposite direction to the lake. Just off mountain...wards?" she drew a circle around the area. "I guess whoever did it could have hugged around the island's edge or gone straight inland."
Or woke up early, did the deed, and reached this area before any of them even arrived, been here and gone, or still be lurking around somewhere. Lot of possibilities. One thing at a time though.
Connie racked her brain for some more details of the locale. She'd been a bit too preoccupied to bother checking over her map, what with a thousand thoughts flying through her head at once, five hundred of them being about Olive. As she glanced to the side, she realised that, conveniently, there was a map laid out on the table right next to her. Oh. Well then.
She slid off the table and turned to the map. Okay, so if they were all up here right now... she put a finger onto the map and then traced northeast. Right. Alright. She was oriented.
Connie looked back at the others. "Yeah, opposite direction to the lake. Just off mountain...wards?" she drew a circle around the area. "I guess whoever did it could have hugged around the island's edge or gone straight inland."
Or woke up early, did the deed, and reached this area before any of them even arrived, been here and gone, or still be lurking around somewhere. Lot of possibilities. One thing at a time though.
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Applesintime
- Posts: 471
- Joined: Fri Jul 03, 2020 8:46 pm
- Location: In a magical place
So, the person who had killed Olive had sorta woken up on the edge of the island, near the northern mountain. Then they'd killed Olive and now nobody could know where they were. That wasn't a comforting thought, knowing that a murderer could be in their midst right now. Well, she knew Cassie certainly wasn't a murderer. After all, Madeleine had encountered her locked in the bathroom having a breakdown.
But Connie could very well be lying. The idea hit her like a bus crashing through a snowman made in the middle of the road. Maybe Connie had done it. And as quickly as Madeleine tried to get rid of the thought, it kept coming back like a boomerang. She was, at least to her, a little bit calm about the fact that someone had already started killing. She didn't want to distrust someone this early just like that, but... it was a possibility, wasn't it?
"I, uh, I guess we'll know who killed her soon." Madeleine repeated her last words, moving over to besides Connie to grab her map, folding it up neatly and tucking it into her jacket's pocket. "So, now where do we go? The person who killed her could be anywhere."
Including inside a log cabin with them right now.
But Connie could very well be lying. The idea hit her like a bus crashing through a snowman made in the middle of the road. Maybe Connie had done it. And as quickly as Madeleine tried to get rid of the thought, it kept coming back like a boomerang. She was, at least to her, a little bit calm about the fact that someone had already started killing. She didn't want to distrust someone this early just like that, but... it was a possibility, wasn't it?
"I, uh, I guess we'll know who killed her soon." Madeleine repeated her last words, moving over to besides Connie to grab her map, folding it up neatly and tucking it into her jacket's pocket. "So, now where do we go? The person who killed her could be anywhere."
Including inside a log cabin with them right now.
Cassie watched as Connie pointed out the body's rough location on the map, moving away from the window to take a closer look.
Apparently the body wasn't too far away from them, relatively speaking, so there was a decent chance that Olive's killer was still prowling nearby. Who that was exactly was still very much a mystery, though as Madeline pointed out they should know for certain by the first announcement, whenever that was. Until then, going off Connie's description, it was probably someone fairly big and strong. Or maybe just someone with a heavy blunt instrument, like a baseball bat, or a sledgehammer...
Or a hockey stick.
Or an aztec club...
She'd try to do away with that last thought in particular, but it was too late. The seed had already been planted, the roots entrenching themselves into her head. Much as she wanted to believe in Madeline, until that announcement she wasn't sure if there was a single person on the entire island she could trust without even a glimmer of doubt.
One thing was certain though: They couldn't stay there, as loath as she was to leave the one secluded spot of shelter this corner of the island. The thought of Oliver's killer watching them from the undergrowth was too much to bear, the killing occurring way too close way too soon for her to feel truly safe. The fact that she wasn't exactly comfortable about all the moss didn't help either.
That begged the question as to where else though. There was the research station and the mining town, which were likely to be popular spots since they were the obvious places to seek shelter. There was mention of a trapping camp that was probably fairly secluded, but that was on the opposite end of the island. A part of her still wished they could just stay put, but with a killer so potentially close...
"Th-the mining town looks like its closer than the research station, but they're both probably going to have lots of p-p-people around..." she'd say quietly, before a thought suddenly struck her. "D-do either of you have much experience camping? Mmmaybe we can take one of the tents outside with us? Find somewhere quiet that isn't marked out on the map?"
She'd turn to Connie, realising then that she had no idea whether she'd opt to join up with them or if they were likely to go their separate ways.
Apparently the body wasn't too far away from them, relatively speaking, so there was a decent chance that Olive's killer was still prowling nearby. Who that was exactly was still very much a mystery, though as Madeline pointed out they should know for certain by the first announcement, whenever that was. Until then, going off Connie's description, it was probably someone fairly big and strong. Or maybe just someone with a heavy blunt instrument, like a baseball bat, or a sledgehammer...
Or a hockey stick.
Or an aztec club...
She'd try to do away with that last thought in particular, but it was too late. The seed had already been planted, the roots entrenching themselves into her head. Much as she wanted to believe in Madeline, until that announcement she wasn't sure if there was a single person on the entire island she could trust without even a glimmer of doubt.
One thing was certain though: They couldn't stay there, as loath as she was to leave the one secluded spot of shelter this corner of the island. The thought of Oliver's killer watching them from the undergrowth was too much to bear, the killing occurring way too close way too soon for her to feel truly safe. The fact that she wasn't exactly comfortable about all the moss didn't help either.
That begged the question as to where else though. There was the research station and the mining town, which were likely to be popular spots since they were the obvious places to seek shelter. There was mention of a trapping camp that was probably fairly secluded, but that was on the opposite end of the island. A part of her still wished they could just stay put, but with a killer so potentially close...
"Th-the mining town looks like its closer than the research station, but they're both probably going to have lots of p-p-people around..." she'd say quietly, before a thought suddenly struck her. "D-do either of you have much experience camping? Mmmaybe we can take one of the tents outside with us? Find somewhere quiet that isn't marked out on the map?"
She'd turn to Connie, realising then that she had no idea whether she'd opt to join up with them or if they were likely to go their separate ways.
Connie shook her head in response to Cassie.
"I'm no camper, sorry. Probably going to be buildings all the way for me." She glanced at Madeleine. "Less chance of getting jumped by could-be-anywhere, too."
She wondered how that sounded when she said it. Connie wasn't trying to put her creepy, atmospheric voice on or anything. She knew there were also other ways she could have put what she said.
A pause, and then she brightened up. "Grabbing a tent is a good idea though, you should definitely give it a shot. I've got someplace I need to check out though." Connie stepped back over to the map and planted a finger on the research station.
That was definitely the next play. Where else from there? She had a few ideas.
"I'm no camper, sorry. Probably going to be buildings all the way for me." She glanced at Madeleine. "Less chance of getting jumped by could-be-anywhere, too."
She wondered how that sounded when she said it. Connie wasn't trying to put her creepy, atmospheric voice on or anything. She knew there were also other ways she could have put what she said.
A pause, and then she brightened up. "Grabbing a tent is a good idea though, you should definitely give it a shot. I've got someplace I need to check out though." Connie stepped back over to the map and planted a finger on the research station.
That was definitely the next play. Where else from there? She had a few ideas.
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Applesintime
- Posts: 471
- Joined: Fri Jul 03, 2020 8:46 pm
- Location: In a magical place
Madeleine tilted her head, thinking for a second. "Uh, I haven't got any experience either." She'd only went on hikes, never camping. She'd suggested it once, and Dad agreed in that kind of noncommital way when someone doesn't want to do something but doesn't want to explicitly say no and they never actually got around to doing it. Considering how bitterly cold it was outside, she was dubious that hiding in a tent would lead to anything other than frostbite.
"I think we're gonna have to head somewhere. The mining town at least sounds like it'll have somewhere a bit warmer. There might be more people, yeah," she glanced over at Cassie, wording her sentences carefully so she could try and convince her, "but I don't think any of them are gonna be violent. I know what that Danya dude said, but I believe that we're not gonna jump at killing our classmates just because he said so!" At least, Madeleine wnted to believe that.
Connie moved over to the map, Madeleine watching her carefully. She needed to go somewhere in the research station. "Why?" The response came out a little more guarded than Madeleine intended, but some of her skepticalism was leaking into her voice. Maybe Connie was just acting weird from stress - god knows Madeleine wouldn't be weird if she'd just seen a dead body - but something in her gut nagged at her.
"I think we're gonna have to head somewhere. The mining town at least sounds like it'll have somewhere a bit warmer. There might be more people, yeah," she glanced over at Cassie, wording her sentences carefully so she could try and convince her, "but I don't think any of them are gonna be violent. I know what that Danya dude said, but I believe that we're not gonna jump at killing our classmates just because he said so!" At least, Madeleine wnted to believe that.
Connie moved over to the map, Madeleine watching her carefully. She needed to go somewhere in the research station. "Why?" The response came out a little more guarded than Madeleine intended, but some of her skepticalism was leaking into her voice. Maybe Connie was just acting weird from stress - god knows Madeleine wouldn't be weird if she'd just seen a dead body - but something in her gut nagged at her.
"Oh..." sighed Cassie, looking somewhat deflated. For a moment she thought she'd come up with a clever solution to their shelter issue. That they could maybe find somewhere nice and secluded, somewhere that wasn't marked down on the map, somewhere they can hide until...
.....
From the sound of things however, Connie and Madeline were both determined to head to either the research station or the mining town, neither of which were options she was particularly happy about. Population centres meant people, and people meant danger. Despite Madeline's attempts to convince her otherwise, Olive's death proved that at least some of their classmates out there were willing to kill. Maybe even worse. Not to mention that... Horrific video they were shown, the one about the two friends who...
She quickly began to feel very cramped in that small cabin, her hand reaching up to tug and fondle her collar. She still hadn't gotten used to it, still felt like it was strangling her, cutting off her airway and leaving her unable to breath. She wanted it off more than anything in the world.
Or maybe she just needed some air.
"Um... I-I'll go check out the, um, the tents... See if any of them are salvageable?" she'd suggest, grabbing her bag and heaving it onto her back before backing away towards the door, taking a cautious peek through the adjacent window to make sure there was nobody watching before heading out into the snow.
In truth, she wanted an excuse to be alone with her thoughts for a bit. To get some fresh air, think things through, consider her options. She was vigilant of course, keeping a close eye on her surroundings as she ventured towards the frosty tents, still nervous about Olive's killer. But she needed to have some time to herself, to ponder what course she was going to take.
She wasn't 100% sure just yet if she had any intentions of returning to the cabin.
.....
From the sound of things however, Connie and Madeline were both determined to head to either the research station or the mining town, neither of which were options she was particularly happy about. Population centres meant people, and people meant danger. Despite Madeline's attempts to convince her otherwise, Olive's death proved that at least some of their classmates out there were willing to kill. Maybe even worse. Not to mention that... Horrific video they were shown, the one about the two friends who...
She quickly began to feel very cramped in that small cabin, her hand reaching up to tug and fondle her collar. She still hadn't gotten used to it, still felt like it was strangling her, cutting off her airway and leaving her unable to breath. She wanted it off more than anything in the world.
Or maybe she just needed some air.
"Um... I-I'll go check out the, um, the tents... See if any of them are salvageable?" she'd suggest, grabbing her bag and heaving it onto her back before backing away towards the door, taking a cautious peek through the adjacent window to make sure there was nobody watching before heading out into the snow.
In truth, she wanted an excuse to be alone with her thoughts for a bit. To get some fresh air, think things through, consider her options. She was vigilant of course, keeping a close eye on her surroundings as she ventured towards the frosty tents, still nervous about Olive's killer. But she needed to have some time to herself, to ponder what course she was going to take.
She wasn't 100% sure just yet if she had any intentions of returning to the cabin.
Would anyone jump to killing classmates? Recent history suggested yes. Cute that Madeleine believed—well, was saying—otherwise. Connie wasn't the kind of screwed up that she'd even consider sitting down in front of her computer and trying to watch SOTF—she liked horror not snuff—and she was still willing to place a hefty bet that in every version of SOTF that had ever happened, somebody had said something to the effect of 'I don't think our classmates would kill each other!'. Busloads of kids hadn't just keeled over and died from natural causes, and it wasn't what would happen and was happening here.
There was a certain edge to Madeleine's next question, and Connie glanced her way for a little longer than she had last time. See? Say one thing, but Connie could practically see those gears of suspicion turning. She herself already well knew about how far trust could go. Then bit by bit everyone would learn, die, or learn by dying.
Connie couldn't say she much liked the sound of that.
Cassie said something about checking the tents, and Connie just nodded and flicked her a short little wave. Honestly, she'd be pretty darn impressed with the workmanship if any of those were still intact.
She looked back at Madeleine again.
"There are some things I'd like to check out, that's all. Can't go spoiling them, that'd ruin the thrill of the mystery."
There was a certain edge to Madeleine's next question, and Connie glanced her way for a little longer than she had last time. See? Say one thing, but Connie could practically see those gears of suspicion turning. She herself already well knew about how far trust could go. Then bit by bit everyone would learn, die, or learn by dying.
Connie couldn't say she much liked the sound of that.
Cassie said something about checking the tents, and Connie just nodded and flicked her a short little wave. Honestly, she'd be pretty darn impressed with the workmanship if any of those were still intact.
She looked back at Madeleine again.
"There are some things I'd like to check out, that's all. Can't go spoiling them, that'd ruin the thrill of the mystery."
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Applesintime
- Posts: 471
- Joined: Fri Jul 03, 2020 8:46 pm
- Location: In a magical place
"Like what?" Madeleine's voice was steady, watching Connie poke around her map. "You're, uh, honestly giving off some weird vibes, you know? Talking about mysteries and stuff?"
She wished Cassie was still here. As it was, Madeleine was tempted to bolt too.
She wished Cassie was still here. As it was, Madeleine was tempted to bolt too.
Unsurprisingly, Cassie didn't have much luck.
Truth be told, she was well aware that the odds of finding a tent in any working condition were close to none. If the cabin had been left alone long enough to get taken over by moss, then there was no way any of the tents were going to fare any better.
Sure enough, as she wandered through the snowy campground that appeared to be exactly the case. They were all torn and tattered, soaking wet and covered in mould, left to the uncaring mercy of the elements. Some of the fabric might have been salvageable, but frankly even if they were in perfect condition she wasn't sure if she was really cut out for roughing it in the wild anyway. She didn't want to sleep in a tent. Or a mouldy mossy bed in a cold cabin. She wanted to go back to HER bed. Back home, where it was safe, and warm, and where she was surrounded by family rather than strangers. Where she wasn't constantly peering over her shoulder to make sure somebody wasn't creeping up on her, or fearing that every person she met was planning to do something dreadful to her.
There wasn't anything she could do about any of that, though, not as she wandered half-aimlessly through the campground. She'd stopped looking at the tents anymore, instead finding herself slowly drifting back towards the cabin, only to stop outside. Instead of going back in just yet, she'd then find herself drifting over towards the jetty, walking across the lightly frosted floorboards before stopping at the very edge.
She'd gaze out at the horizon, the vast frozen lake sprawling out before her. She'd fumble the ice skate in her grip, holding it close to her chest for comfort. Memories came flooding back to her of the time her parents took her to see Disney on Ice, how enchanted she was watching Elsa glide seamlessly across the frosty ice rink, singing and dancing whilst perfectly keeping her balance. She couldn't help but imagine herself out there, gliding across the ice, skillfully making figure eights without a care in the world. No pandemic. No explosive collars. No pain, or worries, or anguish. Just herself, and her thoughts, away from it all in silent harmony.
Cassie liked the sound of that.
She tugged lightly on her collar again. It was still too tight.
Truth be told, she was well aware that the odds of finding a tent in any working condition were close to none. If the cabin had been left alone long enough to get taken over by moss, then there was no way any of the tents were going to fare any better.
Sure enough, as she wandered through the snowy campground that appeared to be exactly the case. They were all torn and tattered, soaking wet and covered in mould, left to the uncaring mercy of the elements. Some of the fabric might have been salvageable, but frankly even if they were in perfect condition she wasn't sure if she was really cut out for roughing it in the wild anyway. She didn't want to sleep in a tent. Or a mouldy mossy bed in a cold cabin. She wanted to go back to HER bed. Back home, where it was safe, and warm, and where she was surrounded by family rather than strangers. Where she wasn't constantly peering over her shoulder to make sure somebody wasn't creeping up on her, or fearing that every person she met was planning to do something dreadful to her.
There wasn't anything she could do about any of that, though, not as she wandered half-aimlessly through the campground. She'd stopped looking at the tents anymore, instead finding herself slowly drifting back towards the cabin, only to stop outside. Instead of going back in just yet, she'd then find herself drifting over towards the jetty, walking across the lightly frosted floorboards before stopping at the very edge.
She'd gaze out at the horizon, the vast frozen lake sprawling out before her. She'd fumble the ice skate in her grip, holding it close to her chest for comfort. Memories came flooding back to her of the time her parents took her to see Disney on Ice, how enchanted she was watching Elsa glide seamlessly across the frosty ice rink, singing and dancing whilst perfectly keeping her balance. She couldn't help but imagine herself out there, gliding across the ice, skillfully making figure eights without a care in the world. No pandemic. No explosive collars. No pain, or worries, or anguish. Just herself, and her thoughts, away from it all in silent harmony.
Cassie liked the sound of that.
She tugged lightly on her collar again. It was still too tight.
Connie held silent eye contact for half a second longer than was comfortable.
"Am I being weird? Sorry, I guess. Just, seeing what I saw, knowing someone was responsible for it..." Connie shrugged and laughed. Her smile stuck around after the laugh ended. "Maybe it's a defence mechanism."
"Am I being weird? Sorry, I guess. Just, seeing what I saw, knowing someone was responsible for it..." Connie shrugged and laughed. Her smile stuck around after the laugh ended. "Maybe it's a defence mechanism."
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Applesintime
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Madeleine bit her lip, trying to not say that yeah, Connie was acting really, really damn weird, in a way that was making her very, very uncomfortable. She was glad that she'd been given something that she could use as a weapon now, because the smile the other girl had on her face was similar to a monster looking to bite your head off as it invited you into its lair.
"I should, uh, go check on Cassie. Make sure she's doing alright." But she needed her map first, and between Madeleine and her map was someone who was potentially a murderer.
"I should, uh, go check on Cassie. Make sure she's doing alright." But she needed her map first, and between Madeleine and her map was someone who was potentially a murderer.
Cassie fumbled with the ice skate in her hands as she stood there at the end of the jetty, the frozen lake stretching out as far as the eye could see.
It was quite tempting, really. To just kick her shoes off, slip the skates on, and glide out there. Disappear into the horizon like at the end of the movie, making figure eights and letting the wind guide her. Forget all her worries, her anxieties, ignore the voice at the back of her head that kept trying to remind her that she'd never see her family again. To just let it all go and lose herself to the moment, fully embrace the silent tranquillity the lake offered.
But then she felt a chill down her spine. Quite literally, it was very cold outside. She wanted to go back to the cabin now. But that meant going back to acknowledging the situation she was in, not to mention the prospect of heading somewhere less quiet and infinitely more dangerous.
Then again, what choice did she have? She could always wander off, make her own path, maybe try to make it to the trapping camp on the other side of the island all on her own. She tended to prefer being alone anyway.
But what if she came across someone else? Someone like whoever had hurt Olive? In many ways she had been really lucky to meet a girl like Madeline, someone who was willing to help even after Cassie threatened to shoot her. But if she was all by herself, armed only with a shoe...
In the end, Cassie didn't kick her shoes off, or split off from the others. Instead she turned around and started to make her way back towards the cabin.
She had only been gone for a few minutes, at most. She wondered if Madeline and Connie had come to some agreement as to where they should head to.
It was quite tempting, really. To just kick her shoes off, slip the skates on, and glide out there. Disappear into the horizon like at the end of the movie, making figure eights and letting the wind guide her. Forget all her worries, her anxieties, ignore the voice at the back of her head that kept trying to remind her that she'd never see her family again. To just let it all go and lose herself to the moment, fully embrace the silent tranquillity the lake offered.
But then she felt a chill down her spine. Quite literally, it was very cold outside. She wanted to go back to the cabin now. But that meant going back to acknowledging the situation she was in, not to mention the prospect of heading somewhere less quiet and infinitely more dangerous.
Then again, what choice did she have? She could always wander off, make her own path, maybe try to make it to the trapping camp on the other side of the island all on her own. She tended to prefer being alone anyway.
But what if she came across someone else? Someone like whoever had hurt Olive? In many ways she had been really lucky to meet a girl like Madeline, someone who was willing to help even after Cassie threatened to shoot her. But if she was all by herself, armed only with a shoe...
In the end, Cassie didn't kick her shoes off, or split off from the others. Instead she turned around and started to make her way back towards the cabin.
She had only been gone for a few minutes, at most. She wondered if Madeline and Connie had come to some agreement as to where they should head to.