((Miranda Millers continued from Out of the Frying Pan...))
Miranda forced her eyes open, only to be introduced to what can only be described as a literal world of pain. Her head hadn't improved much. In fact, it seemed to have gotten worse. She felt even more like she was going to throw up, and she had to squint her eyes a bit. It was horrible. Even now, she was scared that Baxter hit hard enough that she was bleeding from the brain or something awful like that. He better not have. Miranda wasn't sure what to do if he did.
It was cool in the office building, in multiple senses of the word. Cool as in the temperature was nice, even if sleeping with your back against a cubicle wasn't ideal, cool as in it was actually pretty neat. Well, it wasn't neat in the literal sense, but you know. It still creeped her out a bit how everything looked like the world had just ended, but by this point she was almost used to it. Almost was an important word in that sentence, but it was something that by this point was a normality. Though, she kind of realized earlier that there was some kind of nuclear power plant very close by. That wasn't a good thing. She bathed in the water the other day, and had casually slept nearby on multiple occasions. She better not get any kind of poisoning, either. That would kind of suck on top of everything.
Kyoko still loyally laid across her lap, as Miranda rubbed her forehead. It was just another day on this island. The island with nuclear power plants, amusement parks, farms, towns, and airports. She still wanted to know where exactly did they take them, and how did they find an island with all this on it?
The familiar screech on the intercom started, searing through Miranda's aching head. She winced at the sound.
"Good morning, kids."
It wasn't the same voice as before. Miranda tensed up, knowing that wasn't a good sign.
"My name's James. I'm the collar guy, and, well, I'm sorry to say, after two promising days, nobody actually managed a kill yesterday. You know what that means."
Right then, everything seemed to stop.
Miranda was frozen to the spot, as everything went through her mind at once. She was going to die here, in this cubicle, and nothing was going to stop them from killing her. Nothing she did helped, and now they were killing everyone. This was it. It was just going to be like this, and there was no chance for her after all. She tightly closed her eyes, waiting for the impact to end it.
It was only two seconds, but it seemed like a lifetime.
"Just kidding. Keep up the good work. Here's Danya with our main attraction."
She opened her eyes.
As the panic subsided, a scowl of frustration passed over her face. They... really liked taunting them, didn't they? It was probably some sick show for them, to tell everyone that hey, guess who's still in charge? That's right, them. In hindsight, it was kind of the sort of thing she would know better than to believe. After all, it made no sense especially from her perspective. But, how were you supposed to react when they said they were going to make the collars explode?
Miranda quietly listened to the announcement, and right away she got the answers she wanted. There wasn't too much of note aside from that. Once it finally ended with declaring the winner- or rather, winners- of the awards and how they were given sausages and ice cream, Miranda sat in thought for a few seconds. What exactly was she feeling? Anger, resentment, relief? Even remorse?
No, she realized. It was something even weirder than that.
Miranda smiled, and gently clapped. It was somewhat reluctant, but really-
"God damn. I'm impressed, Baxter", she said.
That was genuinely... wow. It turned out that he was stuck in the dangerzone, but instead of just sitting there and waiting for them to kill him, he blew himself up. Repeat, he blew himself up. In the past, she would have rolled her eyes at the idea of someone blowing themselves up with grenades. Especially Baxter; if you told her he was going to blow himself to smithereens before, she would have thought it was something like being a clumsy oaf. But nope. She hated to think of it like this, but there it was. Man had balls. It was pretty much the biggest "fuck you" someone could do in that moment.
As much as Miranda hated him when she was alive, she had to admit, Baxter had her impressed.
Waking Up To Ash and Dust
((Kat Tolstoff continued from Out of the Frying Pan
))
The office building was - well it wasn't concrete, that much was for certain. She was eventually able to find a good spot on the floor to sleep on, and fell asleep eventually.
When she woke up, she opened her eyes, or tried to at least. Her left eye opened fine. Her right eyelid, somehow, wasn't cooperating. Eventually she gave up on the effort and just sat up with one eye open.
Skkkkchhh
That did it. Her right eye bugged out with her left for a second as the speakers went online.
"Good morning, kids. My name's James. I'm the collar guy, and, well, I'm sorry to say, after two promising days, nobody actually managed a kill yesterday. You know what that means."
beep
"Just kidding. Keep up the good work. Here's Danya with our main attraction." And then the Mr. Danya they knew and detested started talking.
"Brandon Baxter got himself into a tight spot in a danger zone. We were going to blow him up, but he beat us to the punch, setting off a pocketful of grenades ..." The only other people who had died that mattered were Joey Caputo, who fucked with his collar, and Adonis Alba, who had gotten into a fight with Joachim Lovelace and lost by spring-loaded knife, meaning he wasn't coming back for a second go.
Heh.
Kat just leaned back against one of the cubicle walls. Miles was still out there, as well as a few other psychos. She just looked at Miranda as she tried to get the sleep out of her eyes.
Clap, clap, clap
"God damn. I'm impressed, Baxter"
The office building was - well it wasn't concrete, that much was for certain. She was eventually able to find a good spot on the floor to sleep on, and fell asleep eventually.
When she woke up, she opened her eyes, or tried to at least. Her left eye opened fine. Her right eyelid, somehow, wasn't cooperating. Eventually she gave up on the effort and just sat up with one eye open.
Skkkkchhh
That did it. Her right eye bugged out with her left for a second as the speakers went online.
"Good morning, kids. My name's James. I'm the collar guy, and, well, I'm sorry to say, after two promising days, nobody actually managed a kill yesterday. You know what that means."
beep
"Just kidding. Keep up the good work. Here's Danya with our main attraction." And then the Mr. Danya they knew and detested started talking.
"Brandon Baxter got himself into a tight spot in a danger zone. We were going to blow him up, but he beat us to the punch, setting off a pocketful of grenades ..." The only other people who had died that mattered were Joey Caputo, who fucked with his collar, and Adonis Alba, who had gotten into a fight with Joachim Lovelace and lost by spring-loaded knife, meaning he wasn't coming back for a second go.
Heh.
Kat just leaned back against one of the cubicle walls. Miles was still out there, as well as a few other psychos. She just looked at Miranda as she tried to get the sleep out of her eyes.
Clap, clap, clap
"God damn. I'm impressed, Baxter"
Survivor: UCONN - Seriously, it's awesome!
Version 8
S001: KAEDE TSURUMI: "Eeep! I-I'm so sorry! I-I'll try not to get in your w-way next time!" Status: ACTIVE
S024: VICTOR GRAIL: "I didn't give you the lead so that you could lose it! I guess it's up to me to carry us after all." Status: ACTIVE
S103: JOAN LEAVEN Status: ACTIVE
S129: DAVID WORTH: Status: ACTIVE
Version 8
S001: KAEDE TSURUMI: "Eeep! I-I'm so sorry! I-I'll try not to get in your w-way next time!" Status: ACTIVE
S024: VICTOR GRAIL: "I didn't give you the lead so that you could lose it! I guess it's up to me to carry us after all." Status: ACTIVE
S103: JOAN LEAVEN Status: ACTIVE
S129: DAVID WORTH: Status: ACTIVE
((Alice Gilman: Continued from: A Safe Rest))
The familiar click that signified the beginning the morning announcements was almost comforting, if you could ignore the seemingly endless lists of dead students that followed. It signified that Alice had survived one more day, that no one had crept in with a knife to slit their throats while they slept.
Not that Alice had really been able to sleep. All throughout the previous day, she'd been almost constantly on edge, half-expecting someone to come bursting through their door at any moment. Even her sketchbook had only managed to provide a short respite, and after a while Alice found that she had no motivation to continue drawing. As peaceful as their hideout had been, it was only a matter of time until someone stumbled upon them, and Alice was increasingly aware of how boxed-in they were. There'd be nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.
Alice spent most of the night just lying down, wide awake, lost in thought. The only time she came close to falling asleep, she was shook awake for her turn at watch, and so Alice sat and stared at the barricaded entrance until the morning came, brining the announcements along with them.
The threat to detonate their collars came and went before Alice was able to fully process it, though she did flinch as her collar beeped, just once, and was left shaken as she realized what had almost happened. This early in the game, it was preposterous to think that there could have been a day without a death, but what about later, when there was only a handful of students left? Would Carlos, Casey, and Alice be blown away, still hiding in their office, if the action outside came to a halt?
Then came the list of the dead, which remained unnerving as ever, even as Alice told herself that she didn't care, that all it meant was there were now less people around to pose a threat to her well being. Before Alice was given the chance to fully convince herself of this, she heard the sound of voices outside, accompanied by slow clapping.
"We've got people outside." Alice hissed to the others, feeling an oncoming, oppressive sense of dread. "If we stay very quiet, they might just move on without checking in here."
The familiar click that signified the beginning the morning announcements was almost comforting, if you could ignore the seemingly endless lists of dead students that followed. It signified that Alice had survived one more day, that no one had crept in with a knife to slit their throats while they slept.
Not that Alice had really been able to sleep. All throughout the previous day, she'd been almost constantly on edge, half-expecting someone to come bursting through their door at any moment. Even her sketchbook had only managed to provide a short respite, and after a while Alice found that she had no motivation to continue drawing. As peaceful as their hideout had been, it was only a matter of time until someone stumbled upon them, and Alice was increasingly aware of how boxed-in they were. There'd be nowhere to run, nowhere to hide.
Alice spent most of the night just lying down, wide awake, lost in thought. The only time she came close to falling asleep, she was shook awake for her turn at watch, and so Alice sat and stared at the barricaded entrance until the morning came, brining the announcements along with them.
The threat to detonate their collars came and went before Alice was able to fully process it, though she did flinch as her collar beeped, just once, and was left shaken as she realized what had almost happened. This early in the game, it was preposterous to think that there could have been a day without a death, but what about later, when there was only a handful of students left? Would Carlos, Casey, and Alice be blown away, still hiding in their office, if the action outside came to a halt?
Then came the list of the dead, which remained unnerving as ever, even as Alice told herself that she didn't care, that all it meant was there were now less people around to pose a threat to her well being. Before Alice was given the chance to fully convince herself of this, she heard the sound of voices outside, accompanied by slow clapping.
"We've got people outside." Alice hissed to the others, feeling an oncoming, oppressive sense of dread. "If we stay very quiet, they might just move on without checking in here."
It was strange how she was clapping over someone blowing themselves up, but here she was, doing just that. God damn. What a way to go.
Miranda stopped clapping when she noticed Kat was waking up. Or awake. Either way. She had followed her out of the airfield, and they had stuck together. Miranda wasn't sure about her, though. She found herself recalling how she was worried that Kat would stab her in her sleep or something. That was still an issue. She could smother her face with a pillow, or poison her food, or worse. To put it bluntly, Miranda was scared of Kat. Some part of her that was still... like before, it kept telling her that Kat was just looking out for her. The other, new side of her kept imagining all sorts of gruesome scenarios.
Miranda had thought about sneaking away, but she couldn't. Kat was a friend, and Miranda hated all the emotions that came with that. It meant she couldn't just walk away, but it also meant that if Kat were to do something to her, it would probably be the most painful thing of all. It had been somewhat more easier to just stick it out alone. With two people, things got complicated. It wasn't even having to discuss things with her, or possibly having to share supplies, or anything like that. It was just the idea that Kat could easily change her mind.
The last remaining part of her told her Kat couldn't, wouldn't, do something like that. It was absurd. But you never know.
Pulling herself to her feet, she felt her stomach churn a little bit. Now that she was standing, she realized she still felt a little lethargic, as if all she wanted was to go back to sleep. But despite her body's protests, Miranda wanted to stretch. It helped calm her a bit, to stretch her body and perhaps exercise a bit. Maybe that's why she liked track so much, and practiced even in off seasons. It was easier to not focus on things if you were doing something physical, even something small like stretching your arms and legs.
Should they head out, or stay here?
Both had its pros and cons, honestly. Miranda didn't want to do a spectacular amount beyond stretching, but she still wasn't sure how safe it was here.
"Kat", she whispered. "You awake?"
Miranda stopped clapping when she noticed Kat was waking up. Or awake. Either way. She had followed her out of the airfield, and they had stuck together. Miranda wasn't sure about her, though. She found herself recalling how she was worried that Kat would stab her in her sleep or something. That was still an issue. She could smother her face with a pillow, or poison her food, or worse. To put it bluntly, Miranda was scared of Kat. Some part of her that was still... like before, it kept telling her that Kat was just looking out for her. The other, new side of her kept imagining all sorts of gruesome scenarios.
Miranda had thought about sneaking away, but she couldn't. Kat was a friend, and Miranda hated all the emotions that came with that. It meant she couldn't just walk away, but it also meant that if Kat were to do something to her, it would probably be the most painful thing of all. It had been somewhat more easier to just stick it out alone. With two people, things got complicated. It wasn't even having to discuss things with her, or possibly having to share supplies, or anything like that. It was just the idea that Kat could easily change her mind.
The last remaining part of her told her Kat couldn't, wouldn't, do something like that. It was absurd. But you never know.
Pulling herself to her feet, she felt her stomach churn a little bit. Now that she was standing, she realized she still felt a little lethargic, as if all she wanted was to go back to sleep. But despite her body's protests, Miranda wanted to stretch. It helped calm her a bit, to stretch her body and perhaps exercise a bit. Maybe that's why she liked track so much, and practiced even in off seasons. It was easier to not focus on things if you were doing something physical, even something small like stretching your arms and legs.
Should they head out, or stay here?
Both had its pros and cons, honestly. Miranda didn't want to do a spectacular amount beyond stretching, but she still wasn't sure how safe it was here.
"Kat", she whispered. "You awake?"
(Carlos Lazaro continued from A safe rest)
The click was loud enough to wake Carlos up. He lifted his head, rubbing the back of his neck as he turned to look at both Casey and Alice. They were still there. Good. It took him a minute to wake up fully, and that was around the same time where he realized that the voice he was hearing was not Danya at all. It was someone else entirely. Carlos immediately caught onto the gist 'James' was going after. No one died yesterday.
The beep came, and Carlos jumped from his seat, letting the clatter to the floor. His hand went straight to his collar, expecting to hear another beep... but none came.
His blood boiled when the voice returned.
"The hell?" Carlos growled, clawing at his collar "They were just screwing with us? Who does that?! Motherfucker!"
Carlos was prepared to say more. A lot more. In a profane language neither Alice or Casey would understand. But, thankfully, Alice turned her attention to the window and that alone was enough to stop him. He turned his head to look at her when he heard some clapping coming from the open window. Peeking his head over the edge, he couldn't see anyone bellow them. Was the coming from inside the building then? Carlos furrowed his brows, clenching his fist. Of all the times...
Alice sounded worried. He couldn't blame her, really. This was all very sudden. She suggested that, if they stay quiet, maybe they won't notice. He looked back her her and shook his head.
"What if they're checking all the rooms for supplies?" He hissed back. "What if they just stumble across us by accident? We'll be sitting ducks."
Assuming that they wouldn't stumble across them through sheer luck was silly, and lethal. The lack of information was annoying. Carlos had no idea who was in the building, how many they were (at least one if the clapping were any indication) and where they were in relation. What he did know, what he was very certain of, was that the building was empty yesterday. Way he figured, they must have slipped in between shifts or arrived through another entrance altogether. Part of him wanted to kick himself for never considering that possibility!
No matter the case, Carlos understood that they no longer had the luxury of solitary. Carlos felt a chill up his spine as he remembered that he just screamed.
"Casey, grab the bags."
He shifted in his place, craning his head towards the door. He looked at Casey again, trying to look as calm as possible.
"I'm hoping Alice is right. Can't be too careful though."
The click was loud enough to wake Carlos up. He lifted his head, rubbing the back of his neck as he turned to look at both Casey and Alice. They were still there. Good. It took him a minute to wake up fully, and that was around the same time where he realized that the voice he was hearing was not Danya at all. It was someone else entirely. Carlos immediately caught onto the gist 'James' was going after. No one died yesterday.
The beep came, and Carlos jumped from his seat, letting the clatter to the floor. His hand went straight to his collar, expecting to hear another beep... but none came.
His blood boiled when the voice returned.
"The hell?" Carlos growled, clawing at his collar "They were just screwing with us? Who does that?! Motherfucker!"
Carlos was prepared to say more. A lot more. In a profane language neither Alice or Casey would understand. But, thankfully, Alice turned her attention to the window and that alone was enough to stop him. He turned his head to look at her when he heard some clapping coming from the open window. Peeking his head over the edge, he couldn't see anyone bellow them. Was the coming from inside the building then? Carlos furrowed his brows, clenching his fist. Of all the times...
Alice sounded worried. He couldn't blame her, really. This was all very sudden. She suggested that, if they stay quiet, maybe they won't notice. He looked back her her and shook his head.
"What if they're checking all the rooms for supplies?" He hissed back. "What if they just stumble across us by accident? We'll be sitting ducks."
Assuming that they wouldn't stumble across them through sheer luck was silly, and lethal. The lack of information was annoying. Carlos had no idea who was in the building, how many they were (at least one if the clapping were any indication) and where they were in relation. What he did know, what he was very certain of, was that the building was empty yesterday. Way he figured, they must have slipped in between shifts or arrived through another entrance altogether. Part of him wanted to kick himself for never considering that possibility!
No matter the case, Carlos understood that they no longer had the luxury of solitary. Carlos felt a chill up his spine as he remembered that he just screamed.
"Casey, grab the bags."
He shifted in his place, craning his head towards the door. He looked at Casey again, trying to look as calm as possible.
"I'm hoping Alice is right. Can't be too careful though."
Miranda was whispering to her. It was the only question she couldn't truthfully answer "no" to. Kat just nodded. Wasn't like lying to anybody about this would be funny or anything. She got up, and her leg truthfully answered "no," as she steadied herself from the fact that her right leg wasn't working for the moment.
"Shit." She limped over to the window to look at her face.
Ugh. Live fast, die young, huh? That dip in the water must have done more to her hair than she had thought. Wasn't going to be re-doing prom any time
She looked at the mop of red hair by the corner of her lip. Kat stepped back.
"We have people here."
"Shit." She limped over to the window to look at her face.
Ugh. Live fast, die young, huh? That dip in the water must have done more to her hair than she had thought. Wasn't going to be re-doing prom any time
She looked at the mop of red hair by the corner of her lip. Kat stepped back.
"We have people here."
Survivor: UCONN - Seriously, it's awesome!
Version 8
S001: KAEDE TSURUMI: "Eeep! I-I'm so sorry! I-I'll try not to get in your w-way next time!" Status: ACTIVE
S024: VICTOR GRAIL: "I didn't give you the lead so that you could lose it! I guess it's up to me to carry us after all." Status: ACTIVE
S103: JOAN LEAVEN Status: ACTIVE
S129: DAVID WORTH: Status: ACTIVE
Version 8
S001: KAEDE TSURUMI: "Eeep! I-I'm so sorry! I-I'll try not to get in your w-way next time!" Status: ACTIVE
S024: VICTOR GRAIL: "I didn't give you the lead so that you could lose it! I guess it's up to me to carry us after all." Status: ACTIVE
S103: JOAN LEAVEN Status: ACTIVE
S129: DAVID WORTH: Status: ACTIVE
(Casey Malkovich continued from A Safe Rest )
What the hell kind of joke was that?
Casey found herself sitting upright, her hands reflexively pulled up to her touch her throat. She wasn't dead. She really wasn't dead; those fuckers had jusst been playing some kind of gag. It wasn't exactly surprising that the people running this place had messed up senses of humor, but to be put at the mercy of their moods was certainly something to worry about. If they pulled another trick like that one, Casey wasn't sure if she'd be able to take it. Were things like that the reason people went crazy on this show? Thank God she'd found people, thank God she'd avoided any killers.
But the most worrying part of the fake-out was that, just for a second, Casey didn't feel terrified or angry or desperate. She had been relieved. There was something poetic about it, the idea that there had been no kills yesterday. It couldn't have been because everyone was separated from each other; after all, Casey was right here with Carlos and Alice. If nobody had died for the whole day, it would have been because none of them had chosen to kill. Could the terrorists really say that they had won if they just were forced to end their twisted game like some angry child flipping over a chess board? Even if it meant everyone, including Casey, died....well chances of rescue were so very low. Wasn't there some victory in that?
And honestly, as soon as the words came on, there was absolutely nothing Casey could do to change her fate. There were no other moves to make, no last-second gambles that would keep her alive. There seemed to be an odd peace in such a quick, sudden death, a realization that panic and pleading could not save her life. It was just like when something unbeatable happened in any of her campaigns; GG guys, pack up the character sheets and the remaining oreos and go home.
The rest of Casey, however, hated herself for thinking like that. For being okay with dying, for being okay with Carlos and Alice dying, even if it was just for a second. No, that wasn't the person she was. She wanted to keep living, keep moving, even if the chance of her getting out of here was one percent. Carlos had screamed at the fake-out, yelling complaints and cursing out the terrorists, and their was a side of Casey that could understand his anger better than it could understand her own acceptance of the inevitable. How the fuck dare they do something like that, with no point? Fuck them. Fuck them.
The less time spent dwelling on her moment of weakness, the better.
The names of the dead were friends, but ones that once again seemed to be on a different plane than she was. Still, Casey felt pangs of well, something, when the names of people she knew, people she laughed with, people she had spent time with came up. It didn't feel like they were truly dead, but there was some emptiness there, like something had been lost.
She was about to make her usual, somber call for them to all eat their shitty breakfast, when she heard the noise outside of their room. Those were definitely people. Alice, who seemed to have noticed the outsiders before Casey had, hissed for them to stay silent, and Casey nodded briskly. There was no point in her making any extra commotion.
At Carlos' request, Casey grabbed the bags. Inside was everything they owned on this island, and trying to go on after losing that stuff wouldn't exactly be much better than death. If something happened that forced them to bolt, they sure better take their supplies with them. If the outsiders didn't have weapons, they could run, right? Dammit, Casey had gotten too comfortable in this place, that she had let down her guard. Getting out safely seemed tricky.
Alice had offered the idea that the outsiders might just move on, and Carlos, looking calm or at least fake-calm (the false emotion that Casey had gotten so used to displaying herself), hoped that she was right. Yeah, so did Casey. She gave Carlos her own nervous smile, an attempt to push down the fear, and stared at the door.
Maybe, just maybe, the people outside were just as scared as she was.
What the hell kind of joke was that?
Casey found herself sitting upright, her hands reflexively pulled up to her touch her throat. She wasn't dead. She really wasn't dead; those fuckers had jusst been playing some kind of gag. It wasn't exactly surprising that the people running this place had messed up senses of humor, but to be put at the mercy of their moods was certainly something to worry about. If they pulled another trick like that one, Casey wasn't sure if she'd be able to take it. Were things like that the reason people went crazy on this show? Thank God she'd found people, thank God she'd avoided any killers.
But the most worrying part of the fake-out was that, just for a second, Casey didn't feel terrified or angry or desperate. She had been relieved. There was something poetic about it, the idea that there had been no kills yesterday. It couldn't have been because everyone was separated from each other; after all, Casey was right here with Carlos and Alice. If nobody had died for the whole day, it would have been because none of them had chosen to kill. Could the terrorists really say that they had won if they just were forced to end their twisted game like some angry child flipping over a chess board? Even if it meant everyone, including Casey, died....well chances of rescue were so very low. Wasn't there some victory in that?
And honestly, as soon as the words came on, there was absolutely nothing Casey could do to change her fate. There were no other moves to make, no last-second gambles that would keep her alive. There seemed to be an odd peace in such a quick, sudden death, a realization that panic and pleading could not save her life. It was just like when something unbeatable happened in any of her campaigns; GG guys, pack up the character sheets and the remaining oreos and go home.
The rest of Casey, however, hated herself for thinking like that. For being okay with dying, for being okay with Carlos and Alice dying, even if it was just for a second. No, that wasn't the person she was. She wanted to keep living, keep moving, even if the chance of her getting out of here was one percent. Carlos had screamed at the fake-out, yelling complaints and cursing out the terrorists, and their was a side of Casey that could understand his anger better than it could understand her own acceptance of the inevitable. How the fuck dare they do something like that, with no point? Fuck them. Fuck them.
The less time spent dwelling on her moment of weakness, the better.
The names of the dead were friends, but ones that once again seemed to be on a different plane than she was. Still, Casey felt pangs of well, something, when the names of people she knew, people she laughed with, people she had spent time with came up. It didn't feel like they were truly dead, but there was some emptiness there, like something had been lost.
She was about to make her usual, somber call for them to all eat their shitty breakfast, when she heard the noise outside of their room. Those were definitely people. Alice, who seemed to have noticed the outsiders before Casey had, hissed for them to stay silent, and Casey nodded briskly. There was no point in her making any extra commotion.
At Carlos' request, Casey grabbed the bags. Inside was everything they owned on this island, and trying to go on after losing that stuff wouldn't exactly be much better than death. If something happened that forced them to bolt, they sure better take their supplies with them. If the outsiders didn't have weapons, they could run, right? Dammit, Casey had gotten too comfortable in this place, that she had let down her guard. Getting out safely seemed tricky.
Alice had offered the idea that the outsiders might just move on, and Carlos, looking calm or at least fake-calm (the false emotion that Casey had gotten so used to displaying herself), hoped that she was right. Yeah, so did Casey. She gave Carlos her own nervous smile, an attempt to push down the fear, and stared at the door.
Maybe, just maybe, the people outside were just as scared as she was.
Of course she was awake.
Kat pulled herself up, and Miranda couldn't help but notice she had a bit of a limp. She couldn't help but wonder if she was more injured than she had previously realized, or she simply slept on that leg wrong. Hopefully it was the latter. There was at least that hope. A small look of concern passed over her face as Kat hobbled to the window to inspect herself. As nervous about her Miranda was, she was still a friend.
She couldn't dwell for too long, though, since what Kat said next alarmed her.
"People?" she echoed.
Miranda felt herself freeze, a familiar feeling at that point.
Who were they? How many? Kat must had realized something. Were they visible from outside? Somewhere in the building? Right behind them? People. People generally weren't a good thing. And it wasn't "someone", either. People, as in plural. One person was bad enough. Two, three, even four? Wasn't something she was looking forward to. Miranda pictured herself swinging her spear around in fear, as four classmates circled around her and Kat with guns and knives. What could they do then?
"Where?" she asked.
Could she do it again, even with Kat here? Hopefully it didn't come down to that. But maybe they would just disappear, or move on, or not notice them. Maybe Kat was just seeing things, or something. Miranda felt a pressure in her throat, hoping that it was something they didn't have to worry about. Should they check it out?
Kat pulled herself up, and Miranda couldn't help but notice she had a bit of a limp. She couldn't help but wonder if she was more injured than she had previously realized, or she simply slept on that leg wrong. Hopefully it was the latter. There was at least that hope. A small look of concern passed over her face as Kat hobbled to the window to inspect herself. As nervous about her Miranda was, she was still a friend.
She couldn't dwell for too long, though, since what Kat said next alarmed her.
"People?" she echoed.
Miranda felt herself freeze, a familiar feeling at that point.
Who were they? How many? Kat must had realized something. Were they visible from outside? Somewhere in the building? Right behind them? People. People generally weren't a good thing. And it wasn't "someone", either. People, as in plural. One person was bad enough. Two, three, even four? Wasn't something she was looking forward to. Miranda pictured herself swinging her spear around in fear, as four classmates circled around her and Kat with guns and knives. What could they do then?
"Where?" she asked.
Could she do it again, even with Kat here? Hopefully it didn't come down to that. But maybe they would just disappear, or move on, or not notice them. Maybe Kat was just seeing things, or something. Miranda felt a pressure in her throat, hoping that it was something they didn't have to worry about. Should they check it out?
There was still a trace of hope left in Alice's mind. Hope that whoever was outside was peaceful, hope that they'd just leave, hope that this wasn't the day that she was going to die. It all instantly vanished as she glanced up while hurriedly gathering up her things and saw the face staring back at her through the window. Alice froze, and though the girl was gone a few seconds later, Alice knew that her group had been found out.
Three clean shots was all it'd take to end it all, three sudden cracks of gunfire to leave them bleeding out on the ground. Alice's mind raced, trying to come up with some route of escape, some way to get out alive.
"One of them saw us. We need to try and make a break for it - no, that won't work, there's only one door, maybe we can try talking? No, too risky, they don't have any reason to listen to us without weapons..." Alice started speaking, half to the others, half to herself; muttering quietly, quickly, stumbling over her words.
Their only possible advantage was numbers, and Alice wasn't even sure they had that. "Could try rushing them when they open the door, the bags could give us some extra weight - shit, that won't work if there's more than one of them..." She continued to mutter under her breath, desperately searching for a solution.
Alice had always enjoyed solving problems. Being able to look closely at a difficult situation, work out all the variables, and end up with the most efficient way of doing things was always very satisfying, however much it irritated the other players at her DnD sessions. It was part of the reason she loved science so much, after all. Even here, on the island, she'd always had time to consider her group's next move, to weigh their next action.
Now, though, time was limited, and Alice found herself completely at a loss. "We're screwed." She said simply, sinking against the wall.
Three clean shots was all it'd take to end it all, three sudden cracks of gunfire to leave them bleeding out on the ground. Alice's mind raced, trying to come up with some route of escape, some way to get out alive.
"One of them saw us. We need to try and make a break for it - no, that won't work, there's only one door, maybe we can try talking? No, too risky, they don't have any reason to listen to us without weapons..." Alice started speaking, half to the others, half to herself; muttering quietly, quickly, stumbling over her words.
Their only possible advantage was numbers, and Alice wasn't even sure they had that. "Could try rushing them when they open the door, the bags could give us some extra weight - shit, that won't work if there's more than one of them..." She continued to mutter under her breath, desperately searching for a solution.
Alice had always enjoyed solving problems. Being able to look closely at a difficult situation, work out all the variables, and end up with the most efficient way of doing things was always very satisfying, however much it irritated the other players at her DnD sessions. It was part of the reason she loved science so much, after all. Even here, on the island, she'd always had time to consider her group's next move, to weigh their next action.
Now, though, time was limited, and Alice found herself completely at a loss. "We're screwed." She said simply, sinking against the wall.
Seeing Alice slump against a wall shot a hole through his heart. Fuck. Carlos felt himself stagger mentally, his hand clenching into a fist.
"Okay, I know this looks bad." Carlos started speaking, trying to kill whatever silence that was plaging the room. "But, look. We know they're down there. But do they know that we're up here?"
It seemed perfectly logical to him. The voices were gone now. He couldn't hear anyone speaking at any rate, but that didn't mean that was cause for concern. It sure as hell didn't prove that they knew. If, in fact, there was even a 'they'. It could very well be a single person!
None of it felt right though. He heard clapping coming from beneath them, no mistaking that. But there were so many things he didn't know. It was all guesswork.
Carlos backed away from the window again, just enough to stay out of view. The uncertainties were killing him from the inside, chipping away at the stony facade he had set up for the past several days of peace. Why couldn't they have just declared the building a dangerzone? There would be no mistaking that. Carlos placed his fingers to his temples, willing himself to think.
"Alright. There's more than one exit to this place, right?"
He turned to look at Casey. She spoke very little over the past couple of moments. Carlos was worried, not just for her but for his little group as a whole. They were doing so well! Carlos gave him a nod.
"Maybe... If we can make a distraction, something that could draw their attention just long enough, we could just sneak out. We wouldn't have to worry about talking to them."
Carlos felt like an idiot. Wouldn't this draw attention to them? But at that moment, it felt like the only course of action that made some sense. Apart from either trying in vain to speak to them or sprinting towards the door. Carlos was hesitant to try either of those without knowing what was waiting for them downstairs.
"We could throw a window out the window? Dunno about that though. So long as it makes plenty of noise. Should do fine. What do you guys think?"
"Okay, I know this looks bad." Carlos started speaking, trying to kill whatever silence that was plaging the room. "But, look. We know they're down there. But do they know that we're up here?"
It seemed perfectly logical to him. The voices were gone now. He couldn't hear anyone speaking at any rate, but that didn't mean that was cause for concern. It sure as hell didn't prove that they knew. If, in fact, there was even a 'they'. It could very well be a single person!
None of it felt right though. He heard clapping coming from beneath them, no mistaking that. But there were so many things he didn't know. It was all guesswork.
Carlos backed away from the window again, just enough to stay out of view. The uncertainties were killing him from the inside, chipping away at the stony facade he had set up for the past several days of peace. Why couldn't they have just declared the building a dangerzone? There would be no mistaking that. Carlos placed his fingers to his temples, willing himself to think.
"Alright. There's more than one exit to this place, right?"
He turned to look at Casey. She spoke very little over the past couple of moments. Carlos was worried, not just for her but for his little group as a whole. They were doing so well! Carlos gave him a nod.
"Maybe... If we can make a distraction, something that could draw their attention just long enough, we could just sneak out. We wouldn't have to worry about talking to them."
Carlos felt like an idiot. Wouldn't this draw attention to them? But at that moment, it felt like the only course of action that made some sense. Apart from either trying in vain to speak to them or sprinting towards the door. Carlos was hesitant to try either of those without knowing what was waiting for them downstairs.
"We could throw a window out the window? Dunno about that though. So long as it makes plenty of noise. Should do fine. What do you guys think?"
"Right outside. They're standing in plain view last I saw." Kat pointed to the window. "Wasn't anybody we know." She shook her head as she limped to get her knife. No way to tell if they were FUCKING PINS AND NEEDLES!
"Think we should hide? The redhead didn't look like much. She might even be alone for all I know." She leaned against the wall where her bags were, rubbing her leg with her free hand.
"Think we should hide? The redhead didn't look like much. She might even be alone for all I know." She leaned against the wall where her bags were, rubbing her leg with her free hand.
Survivor: UCONN - Seriously, it's awesome!
Version 8
S001: KAEDE TSURUMI: "Eeep! I-I'm so sorry! I-I'll try not to get in your w-way next time!" Status: ACTIVE
S024: VICTOR GRAIL: "I didn't give you the lead so that you could lose it! I guess it's up to me to carry us after all." Status: ACTIVE
S103: JOAN LEAVEN Status: ACTIVE
S129: DAVID WORTH: Status: ACTIVE
Version 8
S001: KAEDE TSURUMI: "Eeep! I-I'm so sorry! I-I'll try not to get in your w-way next time!" Status: ACTIVE
S024: VICTOR GRAIL: "I didn't give you the lead so that you could lose it! I guess it's up to me to carry us after all." Status: ACTIVE
S103: JOAN LEAVEN Status: ACTIVE
S129: DAVID WORTH: Status: ACTIVE
Well, there wasn't really any point in staying quiet now. If one of the others saw Alice, that meant that the three of them might be in very serious trouble. Casey felt her mouth go dry just imagining who could be out there. It might be a large group. They could have been given guns, or an axe, or anything like that. Somehow, it would probably less nerve-wracking if she could just see them, see if they had weapons or not. At least then Casey could be prepared for whatever was going to happen then.
Alice and Carlos had run through ideas, with Alice finally deciding to simply slump down against the wall. Casey rather felt like joining her, accepting that things would play out the way they did. But no, she had been through that, had come to the conclusion that she was really, really fond of living. Besides, it pained her to see Alice at a loss. Alice Gilman had greeted Casey with a joke when she had been freaking out, right after they had learned that they were in a life-or-death situation.
"No, no. We're not screwed, it's fine." Casey tried to keep her voice even, tried not to allow her fear room to creep in. "M-most people on this island are probably just like us, you know? They've probably got nothing good, don't want to fight. Or they'll hold back cause they don't know that we've got n-nothing. I bet you anything they're just looking for a place to stay, right?"
Her uncertainty had crept in at the end, and the whole thing hadn't exactly been inspiring. She wished she could talk like they did in books or on television, where the heroes could make grand speeches to rally their rag-tag soldiers or pull their friends out of despair. But instead she was Casey Malkovich, whose greatest accomplish on this island was not peeing her pants yet.
Whatever. She could be doing worse.
She reached her hand out to Alice, then turned to consider what Carlos was saying. She wasn't exactly sure how that plan would work; there were way too many variables to understand. At least Casey hadn't tried to introduce herself to the newcomers this time.
"I don't know," She frowned. "It sounds sensible, but they already know we're here and doing something like that could startle them, make them do things they normally wouldn't. And making any move gives out information about us. If they don't know that we saw them, well we could be anyone, in their eyes. They might not want to pick a fight."
Casey looked around the area. "We could try and wait it out. Don't play our hand first; just wait for them to leave. And if they come up here." She tightened her grip around her x-acto knife, more crafting tool then weapon. "W-we could run it, maybe. Try and surprise em. Most p-people our age can't shoot a gun, I mean, right? And it's really hard to s-shoot someone with no experience. I bet we could m-make it. I-I have the weapon, s-so I could rush them f-first, you know? Clear the d-doorway and then book it. Just run. I-I'm pretty good at r-running, I think."
Casey felt her legs wobble as she attempted to stay on two feet. If standing up was so hard, how could she even talk about running anywhere? But adrenaline was amazing, and if it came to the point where the others tried to enter their hideout, then Casey bet she could pull it off. What were the chances that they were violent and in possession of a good weapon, anyway? It was better than just staying in the room at getting killed, wasn't it?
She steadied her breathing and inched closer to the door, her so-called weapon at the ready. "That's worst-case scenario. We may get a break here. Anyway, it's your call, guys. I'm not exactly great at high-pressure decisions."
It might have been cowardly to push the hard choices onto Carlos or Alice, but Casey trusted them to make the right calls, to make better calls than her. After all, they had made it this far. They had to be doing something correctly. She just hoped their good fortune wouldn't wear out.
Alice and Carlos had run through ideas, with Alice finally deciding to simply slump down against the wall. Casey rather felt like joining her, accepting that things would play out the way they did. But no, she had been through that, had come to the conclusion that she was really, really fond of living. Besides, it pained her to see Alice at a loss. Alice Gilman had greeted Casey with a joke when she had been freaking out, right after they had learned that they were in a life-or-death situation.
"No, no. We're not screwed, it's fine." Casey tried to keep her voice even, tried not to allow her fear room to creep in. "M-most people on this island are probably just like us, you know? They've probably got nothing good, don't want to fight. Or they'll hold back cause they don't know that we've got n-nothing. I bet you anything they're just looking for a place to stay, right?"
Her uncertainty had crept in at the end, and the whole thing hadn't exactly been inspiring. She wished she could talk like they did in books or on television, where the heroes could make grand speeches to rally their rag-tag soldiers or pull their friends out of despair. But instead she was Casey Malkovich, whose greatest accomplish on this island was not peeing her pants yet.
Whatever. She could be doing worse.
She reached her hand out to Alice, then turned to consider what Carlos was saying. She wasn't exactly sure how that plan would work; there were way too many variables to understand. At least Casey hadn't tried to introduce herself to the newcomers this time.
"I don't know," She frowned. "It sounds sensible, but they already know we're here and doing something like that could startle them, make them do things they normally wouldn't. And making any move gives out information about us. If they don't know that we saw them, well we could be anyone, in their eyes. They might not want to pick a fight."
Casey looked around the area. "We could try and wait it out. Don't play our hand first; just wait for them to leave. And if they come up here." She tightened her grip around her x-acto knife, more crafting tool then weapon. "W-we could run it, maybe. Try and surprise em. Most p-people our age can't shoot a gun, I mean, right? And it's really hard to s-shoot someone with no experience. I bet we could m-make it. I-I have the weapon, s-so I could rush them f-first, you know? Clear the d-doorway and then book it. Just run. I-I'm pretty good at r-running, I think."
Casey felt her legs wobble as she attempted to stay on two feet. If standing up was so hard, how could she even talk about running anywhere? But adrenaline was amazing, and if it came to the point where the others tried to enter their hideout, then Casey bet she could pull it off. What were the chances that they were violent and in possession of a good weapon, anyway? It was better than just staying in the room at getting killed, wasn't it?
She steadied her breathing and inched closer to the door, her so-called weapon at the ready. "That's worst-case scenario. We may get a break here. Anyway, it's your call, guys. I'm not exactly great at high-pressure decisions."
It might have been cowardly to push the hard choices onto Carlos or Alice, but Casey trusted them to make the right calls, to make better calls than her. After all, they had made it this far. They had to be doing something correctly. She just hoped their good fortune wouldn't wear out.
((Mild GMing approved so we can all get out of here))
It would have been easy, to just remain slouched against the wall, to just accept whatever was going to happen to her. No more constant fear, no more living in a situation that Alice knew she'd never get out of alive. Was there any real point in delaying the inevitable even further? Her goal had never been to try and "win", Alice was far too much of a realist to even consider that as a possibility. She had just wanted to try and hide away, spend her last days with the friends that she had stumbled upon. Now, when everything was set to collapse out from under them, was there any point to fighting back? Even if they survived, they'd only be living to experience more pain, more loss.
The others hadn't given up, though. Carlos was still working hard on trying to think up a way out, and Casey was admirably still calm enough to try and reassure them both. Looking back, Casey and Carlos had always been the ones to keep a clear head while Alice shut down almost completely. It wasn't any different now, even with their lives on the line. Didn't Alice owe it to them to try her best to get them all out alive, however easy it would be to surrender? Did she really want it to be her fault if none of them made it out alive?
Alice hesitated, then took Casey's hand as it was offered to her, shakily standing up. "T-thanks." She mumbled sheepishly.
She listened attentively as Casey laid out her thoughts on what to do. "I agree t-that we shouldn't try any loud distractions." Alice said, letting a slight tremor into her voice despite herself. "If we're going to do something, we shouldn't g-give them any sort of heads up that stuff's going down, even to try and mislead them."
After listening to the rest of what Casey had to say, Alice slowly began to formulate a plan. "I don't think waiting's an option. T-that lets the others approach us on their own terms, which we really don't want. I also really don't want us to try and ambush them. Too risky. I honestly think that our best bet's gonna be to try and make a break for it together, before they get enough time to plan stuff, themselves."
After a bit more discussion, both Casey and Carlos agreed, and after gathering their things, they got the hell out of dodge.
((Alice Gilman, Casey Malkovitch, and Carlos Lazaro: Continued in Wish I Had a Chance, Here.))
It would have been easy, to just remain slouched against the wall, to just accept whatever was going to happen to her. No more constant fear, no more living in a situation that Alice knew she'd never get out of alive. Was there any real point in delaying the inevitable even further? Her goal had never been to try and "win", Alice was far too much of a realist to even consider that as a possibility. She had just wanted to try and hide away, spend her last days with the friends that she had stumbled upon. Now, when everything was set to collapse out from under them, was there any point to fighting back? Even if they survived, they'd only be living to experience more pain, more loss.
The others hadn't given up, though. Carlos was still working hard on trying to think up a way out, and Casey was admirably still calm enough to try and reassure them both. Looking back, Casey and Carlos had always been the ones to keep a clear head while Alice shut down almost completely. It wasn't any different now, even with their lives on the line. Didn't Alice owe it to them to try her best to get them all out alive, however easy it would be to surrender? Did she really want it to be her fault if none of them made it out alive?
Alice hesitated, then took Casey's hand as it was offered to her, shakily standing up. "T-thanks." She mumbled sheepishly.
She listened attentively as Casey laid out her thoughts on what to do. "I agree t-that we shouldn't try any loud distractions." Alice said, letting a slight tremor into her voice despite herself. "If we're going to do something, we shouldn't g-give them any sort of heads up that stuff's going down, even to try and mislead them."
After listening to the rest of what Casey had to say, Alice slowly began to formulate a plan. "I don't think waiting's an option. T-that lets the others approach us on their own terms, which we really don't want. I also really don't want us to try and ambush them. Too risky. I honestly think that our best bet's gonna be to try and make a break for it together, before they get enough time to plan stuff, themselves."
After a bit more discussion, both Casey and Carlos agreed, and after gathering their things, they got the hell out of dodge.
((Alice Gilman, Casey Malkovitch, and Carlos Lazaro: Continued in Wish I Had a Chance, Here.))
((GMing approved))
The tension only builded from there. Kat said that they were only across the way, but it still disturbed her how long they must had been there. Miranda felt herself grow even more and more taut in each muscle, at the idea of what could happen. They were across from them and apparently only one person, not someone they knew, but who was to say that they wouldn't find their way here? Who was to say they didn't spot them, either just as they got here or just now?
The mental images piled up. She imagined someone setting up a sniper rifle, waiting for them to lower their guard. Just before they knew it, their heads would cave in like smashed watermelons. Or maybe they had a bomb set up, and they would set it off the second they left the building, leaving it behind in a blaze like some action hero. Heck, maybe they even set up a trap, and the two of them would fall into a pit or something.
One person. That was all it took.
Miranda took a breath, not feeling any better because of it. Then her eyes laid on her bag, still laying just outside the cubicle. They could make a run for it. Who knew if they were plotting something even if they were far away? Miranda was willing to fight, but she wasn't in the mood for a confrontation. Hiding would only be a waiting game, to see how long until they shrugged their shoulders and looked elsewhere.
Before she knew it, she walked over to the bag, scooping it up.
"Let's head out", she said.
Miranda swiftly walked past the cubicle, her head still pounding. While she still felt sick, she would easily-
"Hey wait!"
A sound behind her of picking up a second bag, and a loud sigh. Miranda stopped for a moment. As a third noise of Kat catching up was behind her, she briefly felt herself tense up again, but let it go.
((Miranda Millers and Kat Tolstoff continued elsewhere))
The tension only builded from there. Kat said that they were only across the way, but it still disturbed her how long they must had been there. Miranda felt herself grow even more and more taut in each muscle, at the idea of what could happen. They were across from them and apparently only one person, not someone they knew, but who was to say that they wouldn't find their way here? Who was to say they didn't spot them, either just as they got here or just now?
The mental images piled up. She imagined someone setting up a sniper rifle, waiting for them to lower their guard. Just before they knew it, their heads would cave in like smashed watermelons. Or maybe they had a bomb set up, and they would set it off the second they left the building, leaving it behind in a blaze like some action hero. Heck, maybe they even set up a trap, and the two of them would fall into a pit or something.
One person. That was all it took.
Miranda took a breath, not feeling any better because of it. Then her eyes laid on her bag, still laying just outside the cubicle. They could make a run for it. Who knew if they were plotting something even if they were far away? Miranda was willing to fight, but she wasn't in the mood for a confrontation. Hiding would only be a waiting game, to see how long until they shrugged their shoulders and looked elsewhere.
Before she knew it, she walked over to the bag, scooping it up.
"Let's head out", she said.
Miranda swiftly walked past the cubicle, her head still pounding. While she still felt sick, she would easily-
"Hey wait!"
A sound behind her of picking up a second bag, and a loud sigh. Miranda stopped for a moment. As a third noise of Kat catching up was behind her, she briefly felt herself tense up again, but let it go.
((Miranda Millers and Kat Tolstoff continued elsewhere))