WEEK 4

[strangerpeople]

WEEK 4

[To say that the mood of the remaining Strangers is...low...is an understatement. The revelations about Eric, and the death of the innocent Zelda, no doubt weighs on everyone's minds, now. It's a terrible blow, and deep down, those who are left probably know it.

That won't be the only thing come morning, however. When everyone wakes up, they will find that their memories have changed once more, as have the rules. More than that, a new floor has opened up-and something is wrong.

Of course something is wrong. Everything is wrong. Everything and everyone is wrong. Wrong wrong wrong wrong wrong. What can you do? Is there anything that can be done? And-will vengeance be taken for Zelda? Eric is now a free kill, after all. Then again, what's to stop Eric from killing again? He's no longer bound to the rules of the murder, after all...

Is there any hope left? Or is it only a matter of time before everyone well and truly snaps?


There are ten strangers left in this place.]

Comments

[hexposition]

[If anyone's nearby Emma when the vision fades, they'll be able to see how she's trembling, eyes wide and misty as the Stewards continue.

She can still hear the sound of Valimar crumpling to the ground ringing in her ears, Celine's distant voice crying orders to the creaking, weakened knight. She can hear all of that as clearly as if it's still happening, overriding even the Stewards, but she can't hear Rean.

The power to change one event from her past...



When the Stewards' voices finally stop, Emma sinks to her knees.]

[icanhearscreams]

[Jun kneels down next to Emma and hisses in her ear.]

Emma, don’t you dare.

[hexposition]

[That's enough to snap her back to reality, at least for the most part, but...

"I could save him."

The words don't escape her throat, though. Instead, she just shakes her head.]

No... no, you're right. We can't give up for things like this...

[Is she trying to console Jun or convince herself?]

[icanhearscreams]

There’s no promise that they’ll follow through.

[hexposition]

I know... I know. You're right.

And besides... I know he'd never forgive me, if the price for his safety was paid in blood.

[He'd never forgive himself, either, and that might be worse.]

[icanhearscreams]

She wouldn’t, either. You wouldn’t, I mean.

[His gaze is a little distant.]

[hexposition]

[Emma freezes up a little at that. "You wouldn't?"

"You're so much like Kana..."

She has to wonder who he sees, when he looks at her with those distant eyes. She has a very distinct feeling it's not her. But...

If it'll keep him from killing, that's a small price to pay, isn't it?]

...Of course.

[icanhearscreams]

[He just leans against her for a moment before getting up, offering a hand up, too.]

[hexposition]

[She lets him, although she's still more than a little tense, and while she takes his hand mostly to let him feel like he's being helpful, she can get back to her feet by her own strength for the most part.]

Thank you.

I'm sorry for being one more cause for worry.

[icanhearscreams]

It's okay. ... I'm not going to ask you what you saw.

[He pulls his hand away quickly enough and takes a step back.]

[hexposition]

[To this, her response is a little more genuine.]

...Thank you.

I won't ask you, either. I think we're both hurting enough as it is.

[icanhearscreams]

... Yeah.

[His stomach growls, and he glances away.]

Ah...

[hexposition]

[...]

You couldn't eat last week, could you? I'm sorry... I haven't gotten anything this week. If I do, you'll be the first I let know.

[icanhearscreams]

... I... appreciate that.

[There's a definite sense of the words being dragged out. He's not used to saying 'thank you' in any form.]

The butter I left out at the bouncy castle is probably rancid by now. I should throw it out if no one used it.

[hexposition]

[She nods. She's used to people having difficulties with that, at least at some level.]

Mm, probably. Although... if it hasn't been cleaned up in there, perhaps it's better to leave it where it is. It's not like it can hurt the situation any.

[BANGCAKE...]

[icanhearscreams]

It might make some of the other stuff around it smell awful.

[hexposition]

...The whole place already smells of viscera and decay. I'm not sure it can get worse, is what I'm saying.

[B A N G C A K E]

[icanhearscreams]

I guess that's fair...

Come on. Let's go to the library and find something to read to not think about this stuff.

and end thread here?

[hexposition]

[Nod.]

It's as good a plan as any.

[Maybe she'll even get some insight on other magic? (Emma, no, you don't want that, those are nightmares.)]