Elaine Winters
Location: The Lighthouse
Phase: Evening Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain
In all honesty, making one's way up the spiraling staircase running up the wall of the lighthouse without making noise was... well, impossible.
At least when your shoes and your raincoat were dripping with water.
After all, most of the lighthouse was just one big empty space with some remnants of the furniture and other things that had once been there, rusting away at the center of the cylinder-shaped space. 'Rusting away' was also a good term to use to describe the metal staircase itself. It creaked and groaned under Elaine's weight, and the sound of the water drops hitting it from her clothes were magnified by the terrifying echo that governed the building. Step by step, drip by drip, the blonde girl ascended ever upwards, hoping that whoever was above was too preoccupied with their conversation to notice her.
Unfortunately, that did not seem to be the case.
After making it about halfway through the staircase, she could hear the talking up ahead stop. An uneasy silence reigned over the whole of the building, and the staircase under her feet felt like a treacherous ally about to plunge a dagger into her back. One more step... and then it did. A loud, metallic creak ripped through the air, making it all too obvious for the people above that someone was heading towards their direction.
At that point, there was no use in hiding anymore. If anything, moving decisively and quickly was the right thing to do.
That was why, without wasting another second, Elaine made a beeline towards the hatch leading to the top of the lighthouse, and burst in while letting her eyes scan the room.
First of, Elaine saw the veritable mess that had been created at the top of the lighthouse. Around the great big light itself were abandoned furniture, sofas and tables and the like, making a makeshift living space of sorts. Between those there were trashbags filled with what seemed to be an endless amount of TV dinner trays and soda cans. Multiple old television sets lay strewn about in the room, all of them on though producing no sound. Instead, their oddly sharp light illuminated the two people inside the room, both of whom had their eyes on Elaine.
The first one being...
".......?"
A young man she didn't recognize.
But unlike this stranger, the second one was someone she could have recognized anywhere.
Or... should have been able to, at least.
But looking at him, there was something... strange with him.
Something had happened.
Was it really...
"... E-Elaine?"
--- Kean?
Colt Davin & Liana Skye
Location: Spade Queen Country Club
Phase: Evening Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain
While Agent Ferguson gave Liana and the rest a cordial wave and a smile, the same could not be said from Hawthorn. That cold smile on his face was aimed squarely at Colt, and as the stares of the two men collided, it was as if sparks were crackling all over the lobby. The expression of a relaxed hunter, and the hint of an annoyance it was laced with, told their message quite loudly. The black-haired man was behaving only because he had a guest - one not part of the Turnside. Had Ferguson not been here, Hawthorn would have, most likely, already accosted Colt.
However, that lef the trio with a question.
Where were they supposed to go now? The hint had been that Luca had gone "clubbing", but they were here at the Country Club and they were nowhere to be seen. Were they just supposed to search randomly until they'd run across them? Or, perhaps, was there another part to the clue that could have pointed Colt into the right direction? At this point, anything was possible.
Cathie, on the other hand, wasn't mulling over that - at least not yet.
Instead, she glanced over at Hawthorn and frowned.
"Ugh... what's that dude's problem? He's giving you a major stink eye," she commented, glancing at Colt. "No offense, Liana, but he doesn't exactly seem like the type. Y'know, one to get along with rugrats or such. If anything, it's the exact opposite. You sure he's not just stringing you along?"
Cathie rubbed his chin, taking another glance at the duo.
"Actually, come to think of it, I'm pretty sure he's eaten at our place before... Mom didn't like him either," she muttered. "And I'm pretty sure mom likes everybody..."
Truly, it seemed that Hawthorn's stocks weren't high at Road's End in general.
Vier Wolff
Location: McLampet Saw Mill
Phase: Evening Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain
As the doll named Sakura headed back outside to the rain so she could take the normal route - that is, use the main entrance - and approach the unknown man openly that way, this left Vier with some time to do another quick sweep of the second floor. She took a gander at the various corridors, corners and rooms to see if someone had left any signs of being here before them. However, judging by the amount fo dust (both normal and sawdust) on the ground and the fact that everything was as the workers probably left them, the idea that Fyrtio had been here in the last week or so looked unlikely. Having gained her results, the scarred girl took a position in the shadows of the second-floor walkway, where she had a perfect view of the strange man and the doll that was approaching him.
The doll, on the other hand, had taken the route outside, descended down from the second floor and walked over to the main entrance. From there, she could see the mysterious man still glancing about, moving some of the debris with his shoes and mumbling stuff to himself. Now that she was up close, the guy seemed even less dangerous than before. If anything, he looked like a fluffy ball of pacifism up-close... to a point at least.
Nevertheless, it was better not to drop one's guard totally.
Originally Posted by
Sakura
"Good evening!"
The doll called out to the man with a cheerful greeting, causing him to let out a surprised sound and spin around on his heels.
Originally Posted by
Sakura
"What a nice day it is for a forest trip"!
The non-threatening, beaming hello that the doll had used made the man blink owlishly in surprise. He clearly wasn't quite sure at what he was looking as the doll approached, its artificial joints clicking and clacking in tune with its wooden geta. However, the closer she got, the better the young man could see what exactly was approaching him... and once he realized that it was no monster of the forest or something of that ilk trying to lull him into a false sense of safety, that expression of surprise and confusion melted away.
It was, instead, replaced with a gentle smile.
"Ah, well hello there, miss," the man replied, his voice sounding breezy and soft. "I have to agree. While many would say that rain makes it miserable to go hiking in the woods, it does also give a forest an unique fragrance - something you can't get at any other time. So yes, this is rather nice day for a trip like this, even if I'm out here on a job."
The man dusted off his clothes an little bit and squatted down so that he could speak with the doll at the same level, and while it was nice for him to do so, it also meant that Vier suddenly lost a clear line-of-sight to the man's head. He had squatted in such a way that he was more or less behind one of the pieces of heavy machinery from where the girl was looking.
On the ground, however, the man simply smiled sweetly at the doll.
"Oh, apologies. I haven't even introduced myself before launching into a spiel about the finer aspects of traipsing in the woods," the man chuckled, before putting a hand on his chest. "My name is Nikolai Alexandrovich Labzin."
He bowed his head respectfully at the doll.
"What might your name be, young miss?"
Lucille Faraday
Location: Pinefall High Dormitory - Mercedes's Room
Phase: Evening Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain
Eventually, Mercedes fell asleep - despite the difficulties and despite the shivers that had been going through her body. For what it was worth, at least in dreams she seemed to be free of the terrifying experience she had had... the one she had masked away well, as if she hadn't been bothered by it in the least. As strong as Mercedes was, she was, at the end of the day, a girl who wasn't even twenty years old yet.
No wonder having to shoot herself had shook her so.
Unfortunately, it didn't seem like Lucille was any more free now that the other girl was asleep. After all, the way Mercedes had dozed off... she had kept to her own side, sure, refusing to cuddle up to the person sleeping next to her. However, she had clearly needed some sense of safety, as in her half-sleep state, the starlet had caught hold of the hem of Lucille's shirt with her fingers, and was now keeping a tight hold of it.
Like it was the only anchor that Mercedes allowed herself in this turbulent ocean.
Anna Vandemeel & Vivianne Bianchi
Location: Owl's Nest Hotel - Library
Phase: Evening Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain
"Hardy-harr, keep 'em snake jokes coming... it's not like I haven't heard literally all of them by now..."
Ramia grunted this while rolling her eyes, though judging by the wry smile on her face, she wasn't nearly as annoyed as she tried to act. In fact, this whole session of trying to come up with something useful to make for John and talking shop had certainly lifted the girl's spirits a little bit. He wasn't being quite as gloomy as she had been in the car when the talk had been about the artifact. Now she was more or less back to her usual self... though Anna did catch her giving the rainy weather outside a few distant glances, lost in her own thoughts.
Well, at least she was moving to a better direction.
Still, when the raven-haired girl asked her last question, Ramia's eyes wandered over to Alex and Vivienne.
"Terrot and Bianchi? Honestly... beats me. They're both in the league of their own, and for different reasons," the mercenary answered with a quiet voice. "Bianchi's a given, considering how she is. But Ms. Reporter here... she's something else. While we've been here, she's went through the library like a woman possessed - acting nothing like she's back at school. Though at the same tme, at school, she always comes across as a little... weird. Like she's keeping everyone at an arm's length."
With a sigh, the dusky-skinned girl scratched the back of her head.
"Not that I've ever been too good at reading other people. There were few incarnations who could, but never got the hang of it again. More's the pity..."
Meanwhile, the two girls who were being talked about had their own little conversation going on at the other end of the library. Alex, setting aside the journal she had been writing in, let out a slightly annoyed sigh and rubbed her temples - as if to ward against a migraine that was coming.
"There's no need for that. In fact, that'd just be making things overly complicated in the long run. A hasty lie leaves short tracks, and all that," the reporter replied to Vivienne. "You can just act as my partner in this. In other words, no need to come up with a cover story for no reason whatsoever."
Judging by how she was talking, Alex's mood hadn't exactly gotten better during the time she had spent at the library.
"As for the person themselves... no. Not exactly. I know who they are and know what sort of information they're supposed to bring me, but that's about it," she explained, making a vague gesture with her hand. "But, since we don't know him too well, be on your guard. Look for anything suspicious... but don't be suspicious yourself. Just keep your wits about you, that's all."
The young reporter was about to say more, but at that moment the door to the library swung open quite suddenly. This caused both pairs in the room to fall silent. A deep quiet descended into the area as a pair of footfalls approached where Alex and Vivienne were, and between the rows and rows of bookshelves the quiet girl could see the tall shape of a man approaching. She saw a hint of dark blue hair and a glimpse of someone who carried themselves with rigid, cold focus.
Then, rounding the corner of the last row of bookshelves, the man finally came into a view and Vivienne noticed Alex tense up immediately.
Not because of the specific person who appeared before them, no... it was as if the fact that there was suddenly a man in front of her had caused the reporter to freeze up.
Just for a moment.
But then, Alex finally gathered her bearings.
"Barney Keyhoe, I presume...?" Alex asked, raising an eyebrow.
The man before them let out a quiet grunt.
"Sorry. Barney couldn't make it," he replied, simply and matter-of-factly, speaking with a quiet, yet stern voice. "I'm here in his stead. In other words, a liaison."
This caused Alex to cock an eyebrow.
"Are you now?" the reporter asked, looking rather suspicious. "Got any proof? Who are you?"
The young man put one hand to his hip, while using the other to draw a brown envelope from within his jacket. He lifted it slightly upwards so both Alex and Vivienne could see it.
"Here. The data that Barney promised. Sealed so that you know it hasn't been tampered with," he replied. "Also. Rather than demanding one's name outright, shouldn't you lovely ladies introduce yourselves first?"
He scoffed a little, shaking his head.
"Well, whatever... I guess I can go first."
The young man narrowed his eyes at both of them.
"--- The name's Orion."
Immediately, something felt off. After all, that name... it certainly didn't sound anything like a modern person would have.
And at the other end of the library, Ramia turned to look at Anna with a raised eyebrow of her own.
"Is it just me, Red, or are there some Turnside warning bells ring-a-ding-a-linging?" The mercenary asked with a quiet whisper. "And not just in a minor way?"
Alexstrasza Lockhart
Location: Road's End - Streets
Phase: Evening Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain
Rain fell incessantly, hammering away at the roof above the heads of Travis and Alexstrasza.
They, along with Stephanie, had decided to camp out outside the End's Store & Post, since it was one of the few places around that allowed them to stay relatively dry while also offering a great view of the town and its many empty streets... empty being the operative word. Perhaps Travis had hoped there'd be more people around during Friday evening, but so far it looked like every single one of them had been driven away by the poor weather. The only ones they saw around outside were either hurrying straight to their homes or using vehicles, and Travis's target didn't seem to be among those.
Though they did see a familiar-looking car pass by far away. Were some of their classmates also out on the move?
"Well... as I said. It's a long story."
Travis started with that as the two settled on the wooden park bench that had been set against the brick wall of the building. He had used that very same excuse to not immediately start with his tale where the three were walking, but now that they had nothing but time on their hands... perhaps he had deemed it would at least serve to whittle away some time.
"I say sister, but it's not like we're actually blood-related. See, I grew up in an orphanage back in Canada. Multiple ones, since I got kicked around between them. But in the one I stayed the longest, there was this one kid I was thick as thieves with..." the boy started his story. "She was smart beyond her years, like I was, and guess that caught the eye of some big shot back in the States. We were picked up by this doctor lady... or perhaps researcher is the better word. Not adopted, mind you... at least not legally. If anything, we were taken in by her to become her apprentices. She was a weird one... tough and cold on the outside, at least if you just gave her a cursory look. Truth was, she was just hell of an awkward lady, and didn't exactly know too much about human interaction. Still, there was something she wanted to get done, something she didn't know if she could do all on her own lonesome, so on a bit of a whim, she took both me and my friend under her wing."
Travis, leaning on his thighs, intertwined his fingers together and watched the reflections of them three from the nearby puddle. Stephanie, sitting between him and Alexstrasza, did the same and grinned at the sight of her own happy face.
"Years go by and we learn all sorts of stuff with her. That was our life, basically. Until... well. Stuff happened. We got separated. From that lady, and from each other. Some sort of government agency or institution came in and caused all sorts of trouble. They basically Shanghai'd my friend for their own project, forcing her to work for them in exchange for the safety of me and our... well, mom I guess you could call her," Travis continued. "Everything turned to chaos, mom had her own troubles to deal with, and then... I found myself alone. Again. Out on the streets."
The expression on the boy's face grew cold.
"... A bit over a year ago, I learned that they'd stationed her here on some business or another. Doing God knows what. My friend was here, whereas I was stuck in Canada... and probably would have been for a while if I hadn't learned of the Oceandrop Program," he said, a dry smile cracking through his expression. "That was my lucky break. I knew they'd probably have me under surveillance if I tried to approach her on my own, so I needed a good reason to be here. And Oceandrop Program was my reason. All I needed to do was... to break the personality I had so far, and become someone twisted - someone unfit for society. I basically broke myself down to the building blocks and reconstructed myself. And just in time too. Managed to get the invitation here among the last batch, from what I understand."
With a sigh, a look of determination crossed across Travis's face and he clenched his hands into fists.
"--- I've come this far. All I gotta do now is find my friend. My sister."
He nodded, mostly to himself.
"... I gotta find Nora and save her from whatever shitshow she's gotten herself mired into."
Elise Pelltier
Location: Pinefall High Campus
Phase: Evening Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain
Originally Posted by
Elise
"I guess this ties in to what you said last night, where if I understand the demon and its purpose, it would help me to banish it from my mind?"
Subaru gave a graceful nod.
"Verily. To master oneself as a whole is to take in even the darker aspects of yourself that you may hide from normally, and make them serve you just the same. Not by succumbing to them, but by understanding what they are and seeing the limits and freedoms that they may bring with them. Of course, it is only natural for humans to shy away from the shadows within them, but..." She paused for a moment, pressing a hand against her chest and smiling as if remembering something from long ago. "... As long as we fear them, they threaten to consume us. As long as we deny them, they threaten to overcome us. As long as we hate them, they threaten to take control over us. It is only by truly mastering yourself and all of your potential that you may bring it all under your control, both the good and the bad."
Tonkori, who had been quite well-behaved and quiet during Subaru's speech, let out a loud bark that sounded almost like she was agreeing. The young dog looked up at Elise with her tiny eyes, and truth to be told, there seemed to be a surprising amount of wisdom in them. An amount that should not have been possible for a mere dog. The idea that the creature in Elise's lap might have been a bit more than she appeared started feeling strangely possible...
Subaru - the Child of Gods - on the other hand, gently gazed into the rain-beaten forest.
"It is ironic that the Children of Man are so good at mastering others, their environment and all that they see, yet they have always been poor at truly becoming the masters of themselves. And those that do often achieve it through a life of ascetisim, secluding themselves into a spartan life of religious fervor. Perhaps it is simply in your nature, or perhaps it is some sort of fundamental misunderstanding that happened a long time ago..." She spoke thoughtfully, as if waxing philosophical. "Nevertheless, exceptions do happen. Especially at the times of great crises. It is those time that bring forth the most powerful of change within people, after all..."
And with that, the small girl turned her eyes back towards Elise.
"So... what do you intend to do, Child of Man? You may accrue knowledge as much as you please, but we are all under the Sword of Damocles here. Our days are, literally, numbered," she spoke questioningly. "What is your plan regarding the darkness within you? I fear erelong you may not keep the guise of the girl fading to the background that you have been using as your shield so far."
Both the eyes of Subaru and Tonkori were all on Elise now.
Prushka
Location: Big Boy's Gas Station
Phase: Evening Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain
".... H-huh?"
For some reason, Robert Covington sounded quite surprised all of a sudden. The man's palpable minor shock was almost too clear over the phone line, as was the silence that followed. At the same time, rain kept falling across the yard of the gas station, masking that same quiet with a static noise that only the nature itself could create. Even Xandra, who had been trying to hide her laughter just moments ago, gave a quizzical look towards the small girl.
All in all, it took almost a minute and a half for Darwin to snap back to reality, which he did with a momentary stammer and the sound of him once again pushing his glasses up on his nose.
"N-no, it's alright, Prushka! I was just, uh... w-well, you know me. I'm not exactly the best person to talk about stuff like this. It's not like I'm too experienced myself. B-but, uh, I still don't mind telling you what I do know! Even... even if it is only theoretical knowledge," Robert answered, chuckling a little bit. "Still, uh, sorry. I let my nerves get the better of me for a moment there. But... just a moment, I'll open up this page and... hmm..."
The sound of flipping pages could be heard in the background once more.
"Hrm, you know, I think it's a good sign? The fact that you're interested means that your hormones have started rolling, which should mean bodily changes aren't, eh, far behind? It's not like we can get a 100% accurate 'weather report' with the data we have of regular ol' humans, at least when it comes to you. You and your siblings are so far ahead of us in many ways, there's bound to be lots of differences," the man continued, losing a bit of his nervousness as he started talking shop once more. "All I can say is that maybe you should start keeping a record of any significant changes? Measure yourself and such. And if you get more of those sorts of feeling, hrm... well, I don't think there's any reason to be wary of them? Just go with the flow, as they say! Nature has a way of teaching about this stuff, from what I understand, haha..."
The laugh at the end there sounded a bit self-depricating, for some reason.
"... Oh, though... don't get too angry at any boys if they feel weirded out. You know how it might appear to them, what with..." Prushka could practically see the man vaguely gesture with his hand somewhere around her height. "E-ehem! What I mean is, I'm sure that things will work out if they're meant to, so no need to stress about!"
Yep, he was most definitely blushing at this point.
Still, after saying all that stuff, Darwin suddenly fell silent... though this time, there was something comfortable about that silence.
"That being said... I guess week and a half are a longer time than we thought," he suddenly continued. "Just a hop, skip and jump and suddenly you're growing up in leaps and bounds. Talking about boys, worrying about puberty, and... haha..."
Yes, there was definite warmth now in that voice.
"Even apologizing to one of the 'awful humans' you always loved to rag on."
Hisa Momoi
Location: McLampet Estate - Servants' House
Phase: Evening Phase
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)
Weather: Rain
"That... that sounds beyond terrifying."
Barney's words were an understatement, considering the nightmare that Beatrice had just described. However, judging by his voice, the man understood perfectly just what sort situation it had been - it was simply that he had no better words to offer. Beatrice, hearing his reaction, let out an agreeing hum and went for another sip of her tea... only to realize it was empty again. She poured herself another cup, during which her dog walked up to her and nestled against her unmoving feet, as if to instill some courage into the old woman.
Finally, once the cup was finished, Beatrice brought it to her lips and took a sip. Then, and only then, now that her hands had stopped shaking, did she continue.
"Yes... it was. A living nightmare. One that had caught a hold of the whole town, bringing it under its iron heel. There was no escape and there was no reprieve, just a life under the watchful eye of Allene McLampet and her terrifying presence," Beatrice spoke quietly. "And it continued like that for many, many years. Each day, it got a little bit easier... but only in the sense that it was a bit easier to fit into the mold that she wanted us to be in. A bit easier to believe that lie she forced upon us. Most of the town, eventually, succumbed... but I didn't. I kept my mind till the bitter end, hoping that at some point, we would find a way to save ourselves."
Barney gulped loudly, and with nervous hands sipped on his own tea that must have been cold by now.
"What... what did she make you people do? What was life at Road's End like back then?" He asked. "Did she... did she want something? Did she have some goal?"
In the reflection of the cabinet, Hisa could see how the old woman shook her head.
"No... or at the very least, if she had some goal, we never learned about it. To her, this town was... one could say it was her sanctuary. She made it into an insidious trap worthy of its current name. It was the end of the road for so many, and there was no turning back. The business boomed and people arrived, each one vetted by Allene McLampet. Those that were accepted joined the town, those that didn't were driven away like dogs. Especially those affiliated with the US military and government. Yes... for them, she had a special sort of hatred. It was as if this town was her very own fortress against the spies of the government, those who had tried to take her away in the past. Yes, it was a fortress, and we were the slaves serving in it, acting on her every whim and having our selves be slowly whittled away in the process," Beatrice continued her explanation. "Thus people were gathered, the town grew, money started flowing in and the plans of Howard McLampet were blooming, all the way the town itself served as a shield of sorts for the terrifying powers of Allene McLampet. In truth... we would most likely be under her iron rule even now if now for two things that happened in 1962."
That made Barney lean forward again, interest gleaming in his eyes behind his sunglasses.
"You're talking about the death of Howard McLampet... right?" The man asked with intense curiosity. "Do you... do you know what happened? Was it an accidental death at all? Or was there... was there foul play?"
Beatrice sipped on her tea and flashed a dry sort of smirk, as if even asking that question was a foolish thing.
"In all honesty... I wonder about that to this day. James Halloway had been always fiercely jealous of Allene McLampet, to the point of even alienating his own wife. Just like Howard. And from what I understand, so was Jack Parsons. Some of the letters he sent to Miss Allene... well, let us say the man did not mince words. Still, whatever happened that day, it was a spark that lit the powder keg. With the death of Howard, the rest of the McLampets - his children - began scurrying for power and, most of all, for the favour of Allene," Beatrice replied. "The one who'd control Allene would control the town... or so they thought. Too bad fate had other things in store for them. Perhaps our desperate cries of freedom had been heard by something or someone, perhaps not... but on that year, two people appeared. They rallied us together, broke us free from Allene McLampet's curse, and allowed us to take back our town."
The tension in the silent air was so thick that one could have cut it with a knife, and the rain outside was sounding like the drums of war.
"First of them was a woman with strange powers... powers that allowed her to break the hold Allene McLampet had over us," Beatrice spoke. "She came from West-Virginia, or so she claimed, and though her appearance, especially her smile, was beyond terrifying, she was, in the end, someone who fought for us... even if I'm still not sure of her real motives. Nevertheless, without her help, we would have never been free."
There was a pregnant pause.
"The name of that young woman was Indrid Cold."
Barney nearly choked on his tea at that moment, hacking and coughing and banging his chest with his fist. Beatrice smiled patiently and waited for the man to collect himself before continuing.
"The second was a young man who had been born and raised at Road's End... someone who knew our plight well and wanted to end it; wanted us to be free. Though young, he became the figurehead opposing Allene McLampet and everything she stood for, fighting to break the chain around our necks," the old woman continued. "He was the leader of those who had been freed and led them in the fight to retake our town and deal with Allene McLampet once and for all."
Somewhere far in the distance, lightning struck across the skies.
"... His name was Daniel Cooper."
John Dove?
Location: Avery’s Dinner?
Phase: Evening Phase?
Date: 09.09.1994 (FRI)?
Weather: Rain?
Oh?
Does he have an inkling of who I am? What I am? As expected of John Dove, even in the maelstrom of this frozen, discarded second he hardly seems ready to lose his mind. I suppose he's always been the level-headed one of the class... though when push comes to shove, and when he realizes his own powerlessness and place in this story, he more often than not descends into a spiral of depression and self-destructive behavior. He swings easily from one extreme to another, as if thinking he can atone for his perceived mistakes by just throwing all hope away.
Guess that makes him emotionally immature?
"_U_L_T_R_A_V_A_N_I_A_."
I give him the name that people have been calling me with since HE gave it to me. That hated title and moniker, one that I cannot rid myself of no matter how hard I try. But in this case, it fits rather well. Imposing. Unknown. Strange. It's all that I need for when dealing with this class.
I aim my stare at John, and the world outside rotates. The colours change and the heart of the beating sound pulsates. Quasars quake and spiral in this diner, and there's no escape. Only the emptiness of the outer space that I share with him, the technicolor void that is my being.
"_S_T_I_L_L_.__D_O__T_E_L_L_," I speak, laughing at his words. "_I__L_O_V_E__T_O__H_E_A_R__O_T_H_E_R_S__T_A_L_K__A_B_O_U_T__M_E_."
Mm, it's the first time I appear before him, isn't it? It's alright to play around a little bit, isn't it? Maybe something new, oh, something new...
... It's been so long since I've heard something new.
Yes, let's make him tell me something new.
----- Ghhk.
I crush the urge to just snap my fingers and obliterate this diner and the downtown area. No. Too many times I've ended it all with just giving into the insanity and erasing it all, so disgusted with the world around me that I just want it all gone. It never works. It always just begins again. Like it always does. It's not like I have any escape. This time, I've made it this far, I've done this well, so I can't... I can't just end it all again.
I can wallow in the soul-destroying existential dread later.
For now... I just have to bank on the slight possibility he tells me something new.
"_I__L_O_V_E__T_O__L_I_S_T_E_N_," I continue, filling my head with conversation instead of self-hatred. "_A_L_W_A_Y_S__H_A_V_E_._I__O_N_C_E__S_A_T__I_N__A__W_E_L_L__A_N_D__J_U_S_T__L_I_S_T_E_N_E_D__F_O_R__A__L_O_N_G__T_I_M_E_,__G_A_Z_I_N_G__A_T__N_E_W__E_N_G_L_A_N_D__S_K_I_E_S_._I_T__W_A_S_._._.__C_A_L_M_I_N_G_."
Flash of memories, of places, runs through my head, accelerating that time into just a fraction of a second and bashing it against my brain.
"S_T_I_L_L_._._.__Y_O_U__L_O_O_K__C_A_L_M_," I laugh. "_N_O__W_O_R_R_Y__A_B_O_U_T__W_H_A_T__I_'_V_E__D_O_N_E__W_I_T_H__Y_O_U_R__F_R_I_E_N_D_S_?"
I lift my sleeve and gesture towards the empty booth they were sitting at just moments ago.
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