"The others can wait. If you think you know a way, I'd like to hear it," You say, turning around to face her. You try to stand up as you do, but you find that your legs have changed to jello, and refuse to support you. So you settle for sitting with your back to the fridge.
"Alright... Remember when I told you I'd thought you'd died way back when? It was during that I found out. I had always thought that kid was shifty, but.." Cynthia starts out, sitting down in front of you.
And as she tells the tale, you begin to remember what had passed, little by little...
=-----------=====-----------=
You awake to someone shaking you vigorously.
"Steve! Steve! Get up!"
"Uhg... What? What's wrong, Cynthia?" You say drowsily, rubbing the kink that had formed in your neck.
That'll teach me to fall asleep in a corner, I suppose..."Listen!" You finally take heed of the arguing coming from the next room.
"SHE'S GOING TO DIE! I'm going out for help, damn it, and that's final!"
Bates."Bro, come on, that's insane. You'll never make it. It'll just get you killed."
Randy.
"I don't care! Get outta my wa-" Bates is cut short by a loud
CLANG, followed shortly by the sound of something crashing to the ground. You get up and begin to run over towards the door to the other room.
"Wow, man, that was kind of harsh, but it worked... Say what was your na- WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT?!?!" You hear Randy yell as you come into the room. He's pointing at the small window in the door to the cafeteria's kitchen you had barricaded. Through it, you can see some kind of massive red orb with a stalk protruding from the back of it. Cynthia gasps slightly from beside you, apparently having spotted the thing as well.
Directly to Randy's left is that quiet kid in the Punisher hoodie whose name you never managed to catch. He hold a frying pan loosely in one hand. At his feet lies Bates, knocked out with a lump already forming on the back of his head. The kid puts the pan absentmindedly on a nearby table and marches over to the door.
"Hey! Get away from there! I don't think that's a good idea, kid!" Randy calls
"Shut up," the kid says coldly, not even looking towards the blubbering ball of fat. He moves to just in front of the window and stands there, staring back at the red orb. His hunch is gone. He now looks like he posses all the confidence and authority in the world.
"Go. Away." He commands, voice powerful but level. After a few tense seconds, the red orb recedes, revealing a small view of some sort of large gray-skinned creature outside. Then, it, too, moves from view.
The kid quickly leans down, grabs Bates by the leg of his jeans, and begins dragging him towards the big walk-in freezer. You didn't even think he had the strength to drag the football player, much less so smoothly and effortlessly.
"You're lucky I like you well enough, Bates...." He mumbles, opening the freezer and tossing John inside with one hand. You stare dumbstruck at this act of unsuspected muscle, as does Cynthia.
"Uh... Kid?" questions Randy, although a little nervously, "When I told him he needed to chill out, it was figuratoral. Or something like that." The frat boy laughs weakly.
"I told you to shut up," says the kid with venom. He closes the door with a slam and moves over towards Lauren, who is lying on a makeshift mattress and not moving in the slightest. He leans down to her hear, and makes as though whispering something secret, cupping his hand around her ear.
"Hey, now, what are you doing?" You speak up, finding your tongue. The kid ignores you, and continues telling his secrets to the clearly dead girl. After a moment longer, he gets up, and looks menacingly over towards Randy.
Lauren's eyes shoot open. Slowly, she gets up, and begins shambling towards Randy. Randy is finally struck speechless, and begins backing up slowly, blubbering non-words all the while. He trips over a discarded rolling pin, and his back meets the ground. It's all it took.
"Go back to sleep, Steve. You're interesting. I'd hate to have to kill you." Before you can rebuke, your body turns traitor. You watch as you carry yourself back to the corner and get back into the same position you had awoken in. Then... Blackness.
=-----------=====-----------=
"...Then he told me that I should get out of here while I had the chance. Said he was letting me escape because he 'saw me as a kindred spirit'. Then he went to the door, pulled it open, and walked away....
"I tried to wake you up, but you didn't. You weren't even
breathing. So I got into the ceiling and ran... I'm sorry..." Cynthia finishes, tears welling up again in the corner of her eyes.
"No, it's alright. You did the right thing." You give her a brief hug, followed by a half-smile. She smiles back tiredly, and wipes her eyes.
"Ahem. I don't mean ta interrupt you twos, but I probably need ta get you to the montur room. Fran's got somthin' she wants ta say." You both start at the voice. Looking up, you find that Chief is leaning on the doorway, wearing a knowing grin. Cynthia ducks her head and blushes fiercely.
"Oh, right, sorry to worry you Chief... I was just a bit hungry. Kinda lost track of time," you excuse lamely.
"Shure you did, son, shure you did. Well, no harm no foul. Come 'long now..." He turns and strolls outside. You get up, and make to give Cynthia a hand up, but only manage to fall back to one knee.
Great. Still shaken up over all that. Geez that's lame..."Want some help?" Cynthia offers with a small smile, having been able to stand my her own power.
"No, no. I can get it..." You grunt, struggling to your feet. You even make it a few steps this time before crashing back down.
"Here..." Cynthia slips under your arm and drapes it over her shoulder, lifting you up. "Lean on me."
"Ha... You sure you can hold me up?"
"Nope. You've gotta help pull your weight too, chubby," she says with a cheeky smirk. You laugh, and the two of you make your way out of the kitchenette and after the Chief.
=-----------=====-----------=
The two of you limp your way into the monitor room, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. Minus Louise, although she is in here, surprisingly enough. She's sitting quietly in a chair, hands folded. She stares at her hands, seemingly not wanting to pay attention to anything going on around her.
She's hurting... Badly... I doubt anyone's even told her, but... she knows..."Just where have you two been?" Fran asks impatiently, hands on her hips. She doesn't look mad, more worried. "And are you alright? You look a little pale..."
Tell them the truth. It's better to just tell them up front and pray for the best than let it be dragged into the light later...
Repeat what you'd told Chief: You'd been hungry and lost track of time. At least it's half true, and who knows, they might buy it.
[C]Claim you'd gotten lost on the way here. You're sure the others would accept it, but Chief will likely smell something fishy...
[Z]CYOA
Steve Ames: Bitten, patched fractured rib.
Hunger: 73% (!)
Equipment: 9mm Beretta, (9/13) 0 spare clips.
Empty 9mm clip
