You are a young adult female working a job you hate.
Your co-workers are people you can't really relate to at all, but you figure time would pass a lot quicker if you could find SOMETHING to relate to them with.
Today is a short day for you, and it's almost the end of your shift. There are no customers to deal with, and it's kind of slow; You figure now is the best time to try and talk to them.
There are three other people with you on your current shift.
There's Music guy cooking the food, he's always listening to music with one ear bud popped in. He likes to sing, and it's kind of funny... You don't really remember his name.
Your Manager Mark, who loves to regale all of the employees with stories about his various criminal exploits, as well as his sex life.
and Casper, who is generally an upbeat guy that probably has a knack for getting beat up. He likes to talk... a lot.
Who do you want to approach? And how do you want to approach them?
>>451295
Approach music guy and ask him what genre in music he prefers. Also don't ask for his name, it is now headcanon that his name is Dublin because he looks kinda irish, might be just imagination though
>>451298
>"Oh man, that's a hard one."
>"Hm. I really like a lot of Hip Hop. I mean, that's a pretty broad genre, but I think as a whole I find it a little more appealing. Shit's just catchy, you know?"
>"So how about you?"
You knew it would come to this. You reach inside yourself and prepare to answer...
Your SELF-ESTEEM is: 6
Congratulations! Your current ranking is: "I hate everything I do in life, but I guess I have some sort of personality."
You are qualified to answer this question!
>>451301
>"industrial punk, Swans, The Cure when Im in a good mood (like that ever happens)"
You have a soft spot for classic music aswell, Dvorjak and Weill mostly, but you don't feel like mentioning that since Dublin's reaction to the word "punk" before didn't give you a secure sense of continuing this smalltalk.
Out of the corner of your eye you try to spot what he is preparing.
What is it and do you feel like asking him about it now that you awkwardly ended the topic before?
Also I wish I could provide some drawings too but Im on the phone and tegaki doesn't work properly.
Dublin seems to be cleaning a fryer; You've never done it yourself, but it's a familiar sight by now, as anyone working back here is expected to do it.
>"Yo, Troy! We got two more SPECIALS!"
Mark calls out from the front.
>"Got it."
Dublin darts back into the fridge, and emerges with a hand full of raw meat coated with seasoning; he tosses the meat into the running fryer, and drops it for five minutes.
>"Anyway..."
He goes back to trying to get the fryer clean.
"That's cool, I mean, I think my uncle listens to that stuff."
He remarks in a seemingly patronizing, and dismissive tone.
"Hey, what was your name again?"
>>451309
Your name is Lysol McDerby.
>>451310
If high school taught you anything, it's that people generally giggle and laugh at your first name just because it happens to be the name of a cleaning product - slash - old timey, crude form of female birth control.
>"Uh, It's Lyz."
You respond.
>"Ah, had a cousin name Liz she's gone now though."
>>"Gone?"
>"Yeah, she got addicted to huffing cleaning products. It killed her."
Dublin stops cleaning the fryer and begins to reminisce.
>"Used to call her Lysol Liz... You'll have to excuse me if I call you Lysol every once and a while, we were close."
>>"Right..."
Suddenly, Mark interrupts.
>"Hey Troy, Stop hitting on the new girl and make some more damn specials. We got - like - six more."
Dublin, once again, pops into the fridge, but remains inside for a significantly longer amount of time; About a full minute later, he emerges.
>"Hey Mark, man. We're out."
>>"Out?"
>"Completely."
>>"Oh hell no. Fucking lazy ass morning crew didn't prepare enough. Go into the freezer and grab some more, we'll have to make some from scratch."
Dublin reluctantly glances back at the fridge.
>"Didn't the GM say something about the freezer getting repaired?"
>>"The food's still good though."
>"Man..."
>>"Look, the GM is going to give me shit if he looks at those cameras and sees me turn all these people away. The motherfucker would pick some shit off the ground and serve it just to save a buck; he would go nuts."
>>"Actually..."
Mark turns his glance towards you.
>>"Since you ain't doing shit, YOU can go get it. LYSOL."
Unable to refuse, you wear an annoyed expression, but you also can't argue that you were working.
>"Hey, that caught on fast!"
Dublin remarks.
You traipse back into the fridge, headed for the freezer within.
(to be continued when I wake up.)
>>451313
nicely written there. Really liking this thread so far.
>>451313
Lysol has a hard life.
>>451313
>"Well, I'm glad we didn't waste the Halloween props..."
You remark to yourself, at the sight of the freezer door covered in fake police tape.
>"They always make the lettering goofy..."
After ripping off the poorly ripped off police tape, you grasp the handle to the freezer with both hands, and pull...
... and pull.
... and pull.
The thing seems to be stuck. Looks like it was out of order for a reason.
Your SELF-ESTEEM is: 6.
You can imagine Mark now...
>"You can't open the FREEZER? damn, you're weak, and a piece of shit; and your cat died because of you, but your mom told you it wasn't your fault because she was just being nice. Also, your parents divorce was probably your fault too, you're a bad worker, and you deserved to stub your toe this morning."
Yeah, you're pretty sure Mark would say exactly that.
No, you've got to do this yourself, and quickly. The door doesn't lock, so maybe there's something you can use as a tool to force it open.
Around you are boxes of thawed, ready to be cooked, food. You can't quite see what's on the top shelf because of your small stature, but there might be something up there...
>>451366
Maybe there's a latch up there or something?
Stack those boxes to increase and stature and check out the top of the fridge.
>>451367
You stack up boxes hoping your legs won't bust through the top and end up smelling of uncooked hot dogs.
Thankfully, with some careful balancing, you were able to use the boxes effectively.
On the top shelf were some of the less ordered parts of the menu, which meant half of this stuff had probably gone bad already.
Among the lonely food, a bent pipe lay on its side, one of the ends flattened. This pipe might have something to do with why the freezer is broken in the first place, but still, it might be able to help you get inside. You jam the flattened end into the crack between the door and the wall.
You give the pipe a swift kick.
You could have sworn the door opened a little and shut as if it were tied with some kind of elastic rope or something.
Thankfully the pipe seems fairly rigid, so you kick it again, this time the door flies open as if there were never any resistance in the first place. You almost stumble and fall, but you grab hold of one of the shelves to keep yourself balanced.
It's dark in here.
>>451372
Shine some light in there. Or look for a lightswitch.
>>451374
You scan the walls with your hands in the dark for a little bit, and happen upon a switch.
Well, this was definitely not a halloween prop.
There was a CORPSE lying on piles of french fry bags. The body had received deep scratches that must have been inflicted by an axe or something. You were completely petrified, the whole thing was incredibly surreal.
Who knew about this body? The GM surely, but what if the manager knew. What if they're hiding the body, what if this is some kind of criminal exploit that now you're a part of.
You had to do something, you had to tell someone, you had to...
>>451376
>"Clock out?"
Mark looks at you, bewildered.
>"You can't clock out yet, Mary's not here yet, and we're gettin' swamped now."
Despite it being a few minutes past the end of your shift, there's no one here but you to cover for Mary while she takes her sweet time getting here.
>"Hey did you get that meat from the freezer?"
>>"Oh! uh..."
That's right, you were supposed to bring back meat for the special...
>>"It's all gone."
>"ALL of it... Damn... well nothing I can do then."
Right, you've got to keep your cool, someone here MUST know you saw the body, but who?
And who do you tell? Do you call to police? I mean - yeah - right? but you need to get away for a bit. If you do though... Someone knows you saw, what if they follow you?
I mean did you REALLY see a body? was that a thing that actually happened? Is this a dream? Are you alive? What is even happening? You just want to go home.
>>451377
"Mark, there's a dead body in the freezer."
Your brother always told you that you think too much, but now is definitely not the time to get lost in your head.
Mark glares at you as if he's not quite sure what to make of what you just said.
>"...What?"
>>"I went into the freezer to get some more meat for the special, and there's a dead body in there."
>"You're fucking with me..."
>"Have I ever made a single joke since I started working here."
Mark's expression grows grim, as he makes his way towards the back.
>"Yo, what'd she say?"
Dublin asks, still pre-occupied with the fryer.
>"She said there was a body in the freezer."
>>"What?!"
>"Hold on, I'm going to check."
>>"Shit..."
Mark spends no less than five seconds in the fridge; when he emerges, he's clutching his phone to his ear.
>"Yes, uh, there's a dead body at the Emerson's on 11th and McClarke."
>"What? It's a dead fucking body man, has all sorts of deep cuts and gross shit."
>"Yeah."
>"Okay, we will."
Mark grabs his water bottle off a shelf next to the fridge and takes a large swig.
He wipes his mouth, takes a deep breath, then looks up at you.
>"Alright here's the deal. We ALL have to stay here, but I want you to turn away all the customers Lysol. Just tell them our equipment is broken or something."
>"And where the hell is Casper? I sent him to break twenty minutes ago."
It's true, He went out back to take a break, but it's been longer than twenty minutes. He was working when you came in, but other than that Casper has been unusually like a ghost today.
What if he's involved? What if the murderer got HIM! What if...
Right, you need to stop thinking so much, and focus on the task at hand.
It's an especially dark night tonight...
You should probably ask Mark if he knows the guy. Is he a customer or someone else? After that it may be prudent lock yourself in the drive through window.
>>451443
Mark slumps down into a chair he brought out into the front, and folds his hands. As you look on, Mark senses your gaze and stares back directly at you.
>"What's up?"
He asks in a calm but somewhat aggressive tone.
>"Did you know him?"
You ask.
>"Nah, Never seen him before."
Not long after he responds, Dublin calls from the back, munching on a pie.
>"I did!"
>"Guy in his fifties. Used to come here during the mornings. He stopped a few months back."
The gears begin turning in your head. Who was this guy?
>"Could he have been dead this whole time?"
You ask, curious about the origins of the old man.
Dublin shrugs, mouth full of pie.
>"You playing detective now, Lysol?"
Mark asks, leaning back in his chair.
>"I'm just curious."
>>"Well, trust me,"
Mark leans forward,
>"Curiosity is probably how that guy ended up the way he is right now. That's why I'm sitting my ass right here until the cops come."
>"More importantly, "
He changes the subject,
>"Did you pay for that pie?"
Dublin stops, mid-bite.
>"Actually, fuck it. Go get me one."
You head back to the drive through window, your usual work station. This whole, strange ordeal is leaving a huge hole in your head, and hopefully by the end of the night that won't be literal...
>>451492
ollie the fuck outie using your super cool skateboard moves
>>451520
Ah, middle school.
A simpler time indeed, or maybe it was more complex in some ways.
>"Fuck everyone, and everything, I just want to tear shit up."
You can hear your younger self chanting.
Dad put you through therapy but you didn't care. You can recall a number of sessions that were almost completely silent, the only noise in the claustrophobic, focus tested, room coming from the soft crashes of a tiny drummer banging away from inside your headphones.
Still, life was a lot easier when you made a lot of noise; drowned out what was really going on inside your head.
Hell, if your parents offered to pay for therapy these days you'd be all over that.
Needless to say, your young dreams of skateboarding professionally ended with the fact that the only moves you ever did were ollies, and a kickflips, but you only landed that second one successfully a hand full of times.
You were probably quite the poser back then, but who wasn't.
>>451521
Perfect time to reminisce. See if you can get some nice music going on the radio, that should lighten the mood.
>>451533
You thought of turning on the radio.
There's only one station at this place, and boy does it play some corporate sanctioned hits... from the 90's. The radio went off after you all got tired of hearing them, but anything would be better than this silence.
You make your way to the back to turn up the radio.
>"Hey Lysol, what --"
Mark is cut off by the dulcet tones of... NSYNC.
>"The fuck?"
He asks, on the verge of bursting out laughing.
Dublin begins to gingerly move to the beat.
>"Damn, this shit's bringing me back."
>"C'mon Mark, dance with me."
Mark shakes his head, chuckling.
>"Oh boy, I must be the luckiest girl in school."
He says, every syllable dripping in sarcasm.
>"Man I used to turn it up back in high school, you don't even know."
At this point Dublin is damn near breaking out a full dance routine in the front.
>"Fine... Not gonna let you look like a dumb ass by yourself."
Mark says, making his way to join him.
Maybe it was your desire to be somewhere else; maybe it was because the police were taking way too long; Or maybe you all just actually forgot about the body in the back, but for a brief moment you were all enjoying yourselves. For the first time since you started you were having fun at work, and all it took was for someone to die.
Your dance session was cut short by the entrance of an unknown individual.
>"I'm here to investigate a death? Or is this a bad time..."
Back to business then.
>Show the mysterious strange the crime scene.
>>451567
The man was something straight out of a pulp comic; a detective, or at least he looked the part about as much as one could.
"So, this is it? Who found him?"
You give a half wave in acknowledgement.
>"You work here as well? How old are you?"
He asks, presumably bewildered by your short stature.
>"Twenty-two"
You reply.
"Well..."
The man turns toward you
"Must've been you then right?"
You, Mark, and Dublin all shoot incredulous looks toward the detective.
>"I was joking. It was a joke."
He says returning to his inspection of the body.
>"My name is Reed. I'm a cop, or whatever."
>"Tell me, were his eyes here when you found him?"
>>451638
Yes, they were.
This is pretty fucking fantastic.
GJ OP.
>>451638
>"Hmm..."
Reed gives a nod in response.
>"Well, I'd better get you all out of here."
>"If you've got any questions, I --"
>>"Who the hell are you?"
Mark cuts him off.
>"You're not with the police, right?"
Reed looks down at his tie, and tightens it.
>"I'm wearing a suit, am I not? That makes me a professional; the right man for the job."
Mark gives a particularly skeptical side-eye in response.
>"Let me just say I'm here to help you, and anyone else you meet tonight is trying to do the exact opposite."
>"If you have any questions ask them now and I'll explain to you on the way, but we've got to move while we have a chance."
>>451794
A few questions come to mind: Why are you helping us? Where's the police? Do we get walkie talkies?
>>451809
Reed keeps a brisk pace as he makes his way out of the building.
>"Leave the lights on, your boss should be able to afford it."
He says, noticing Mark hesitate before exiting the door.
Now you were outside.
The safety felt from the light inside Emmerson's vanishes.
As the darkness fills your pores, it creeps into your mind filling it with any and all possible fears related to your strange situation. Reed looks back at you, his face empathetic as if he feels for your growing apprehension.
>"To address your questions quickly, Twenty-two..."
He says.
>"Because no one else will."
>"Sweeping the area within a five mile radius."
>"And only if you're good."
>"That last one was a joke. If you're 'bad' I'll probably just leave you behind. I want to help, but I'm not a very lenient man; meaning I don't deal with incompetence. I save as many as I can; It's a numbers game to me, and if you're a threat to those numbers I will cut you loose. Regardless, if we get out of here alright we can all get ice cream, on me."
>"That last one --"
>>"Was a joke, we get it man... Damn..."
Dublin chimes in.
"Where's your car?"
Mark asks, scanning the surrounding area and finding only three vehicles in sight.
>"I walked."
Reed responds, completely straight faced.
>>"What?"
>"I heard about the murder, looked at the time, and figured I'd get here before anyone else got to you."
Mark increases his pace to catch up with Reed.
>>"You're crazy right? Homeless? Is this some fuckin' insane plan to scoop up the food we were going to throw away, because I gotta hand it to you--"
>"My mental state isn't the issue. Going it on foot makes us more vulnerable to the suspect, but it also makes us less visible to what's coming after us."
>>"Oh? what's that?"
>"People that can, and will end your life without killing you."
>>451850
"Where are we going? What's the plan?"
>>451850
woah m80 end lives without killing them yeah alright we're out of the shallow end of the swimming pool and straight into the deep end now lads. straight off the diving board.
>>451861
All of this fear was killing you. There was going to be some bad shit going down tonight, and you have to make peace with that. From shitty job, to shitty job you've been able to get rid of the apprehension of starting by expecting the worst and working it as best as you can. This is just another shitty job that you have to get through.
>"Where are we going? What's the plan?"
You ask, increasing your walking pace.
>"The plan is to get out of the search radius. Best way would be generally up Jagged Oak ducking down some of the bigger neighborhood streets along the way."
>"Before we go though, I left something out here."
Reed leads you to a drainage ditch not too far from Emmerson's.
>"There we go."
He hops down and retrieves a bag. inside were an assortment of weapons.
>"How many of you have used a gun before?"
Mark angrily throws his hands up.
>"A gun?! For what?!"
>>"For protection."
>"From what?!"
Mark motions towards the ground.
>"We're in a fucking drainage ditch, and I'm probably - no - definitely getting fired tomorrow!"
Reed calmly reaches into his coat and pulls out a handgun.
>"If you yell again I'm going to have to kill you. It'll be loud, but that will be the only thing I regret."
With his gun still trained on Mark, Reed drops the large bag on the ground, and pulls out a rather short looking gun with some kind of hand guard.
>"Twenty-Two, I like your enthusiasm. Here's a shotgun."
He turns the gun on its side with his left hand, pointing out different parts, all while his own gun is locked onto Mark.
>"Lever-action. Means you have to push this part down to load the next cartridge. Pull the trigger, push, pull, push. Got it? Good."
Reed hands you the shotgun.
>>"Fucking shoot him Lysol, we need to call the real cops. This is some shady shit."
Mark says, annoyed.
>>451882
channel your inner texan
>>451882
>Recall your youth in Texas, targeting shooting at the range.
>>451892
yeehaw
>>451904
>>451892
>>451885
Your youth in Texas wasn't really spent on a ranch, but with your hipster aunt and uncle in Austin when you would visit. They never taught you how to shoot, although they did keep telling you about how you need to be more assertive.
You cock the weapon, and point it at Reed.
>"Twenty-two --"
Mark interrupts.
>"Good one Lysol! Let's get him back to Emmerson's and call the --"
>"It's Liz!"
Everyone is frozen solid as you scan the rest of the group.
>"All of you keep calling me Lysol, or some other shit. How many times do I have to say I don't want to be called by my birth name."
>>"What?!"
Dublin exclaims.
>>"Your name's ACTUALLY Lysol?"
>"Dublin, I swear..."
>>"Who's Dublin?"
>"... Nobody -- I was just -- The point is if a person doesn't want to be called by their birth name - as dumb as that name is - that should be respected!"
>"Liz?"
Reed asks, slowly putting his gun away.
>"What's the plan, what do you want to do?"
>>451917
Stay together and hopefully survive this mess.
>>451940
Fear, and irritation make a mean cocktail which you downed admirably. Where others might pass out or get inexplicably sad and irrational, you were able to stomach the emotions and come out on top.
This successful assertion increases your Self-Esteem from...
>6 to... 7
Now that you're in control of the situation, you lay the shotgun back in the bag.
>"For now, let's just stick together. Keep the guns in the bag and we'll pull 'em out if we need 'em."
Reed straightens out his suit.
>"You're right. Have to keep our cool. I was a little on edge, I admit."
He extends his hand towards Mark.
>"Sorry."
Mark glares at Reed's extended hand.
>"Tell us EXACTLY what's going on here."
Reed Throws the large black bag over his shoulder.
>"I found evidence heavily implying some authority is making people disappear using the police as some sort of proxy."
>"It's not all in the same way every time, but in some way or another these people end up gone. Held somewhere, probably questioned, then killed if you're lucky."
>"They're all related to the perpetrators; Smart beings like beasts going around eating people. The civilians who discover any body that fits certain descriptions in active search areas are taken away. They then paint a fake picture of the victims death with images, videos, all sorts of technical wizardry, or physical tampering to make the body and story 'make sense'."
>"A friend of mine and I decided to try and save the people caught in the middle of this; and if we get a chance, put down or trap the perpetrators for the authorities to deal with. This is the second time I've done this though. Don't get many chances."
Mark stares off into the distance, deep in thought. He focuses back on Reed, seemingly with his mind made up.
>"Fine, 'Reed.' What do we do."
Reed turns around and motions towards the east, into the suburban area surrounding Emmerson's.
>"We haven't encountered the perpetrator yet, so we should keep moving..."
>>452013
>>452014
>"Fuck this job. For real."
Your name is Casper. You're sixteen years old, a football player, a cheerleader (because that gets you points with the chicks,) and an avid pot smoker all rolled up into a joint laced with defiance.
You can't read your self esteem skill because it's behind your pretentiousness.
You hate this job. They pay minimum wage, and you'll give them seven-point-twenty-five percent too. You decided to just fuck off into the parking lot on your break, and smoke for an absurdly long time, just to make that jack-ass Mark angry. You know he's going to give you shit, but fuck him man, he doesn't own you.
You're going to wait out here until your shift is over, and then pop in and clock out. Maybe you should turn the bass way up and blast some music just to fuck with Mark. Actually, you're surprised he hasn't come out here to yell at you yet.
>>452016
Check your cell.
>>452068
Oh shit. You went on break four hours ago.
Looks like you ended up inadvertently covering Mary's shift after all.
You pull your cellphone out of your pocket and discover you've gotten three messages in the last few hours.
>Why are you ignoring me?
From EX DON'T ANSWER
>I ate that sandwich with your name on it. I am older, so my body needs more nutrition. I'm not being a shit, it's just scientific.
From SIS
>Whaaaaaaa? Fine. Jerk.
From MARY
>>452104
Finish up your smoke and head inside to clock out.
>>452195
You finish up smoking, and head inside ready to be greeted with angry shouting.
Instead you're greeted with the sounds of... The Crash Test Dummies? Why the hell is the radio on?
Even more odd was the face peaking out from behind the counter.
>"Cass! Dude! Get in here! W-Wait! No! Lock the doors!"
It was Mary, and she actually showed up today; you were sure she was just going to duck out.
>"What are you doing...?"
You ask, approaching the counter.
>"Cass, t-there's something out there!"
>>"Yeah, cats; Dogs, probably; People, cars. The world is a huge place Mary.
The grave look in her face showed she didn't appreciate the sarcasm.
>"Look - I came in here and clocked in like normal, and out of the corner of my eye this white figure just runs across the empty parking lot super fast into the darkness. I-it was big and skinny I-I didn't see it for long."
At this point you're sure this is the drugged Mary who sent you pictures of her boobs because she thought you were a boyfriend that she isn't even with anymore.
>"You're on something, right?"
Mary furrows her brow.
>"I-I don't do that stuff anymore. Cass I'm for real."
You roll your eyes.
>"Where's Mark?"
>>"I don't know. I was going to look for him, but I can't even move right now. I'm freaking out dude."
>>452223
Dismiss Mary's freak rambling and look for Mark.
>>452223
begin to vibrate into the 5th dimension and peace out
>>452305
>>452269
You pop your head into the fridge and call Mark's name; You head to the back of the store; you can't find Mark anywhere, but honestly, you don't feel like trying all that hard.
>"Alright Mary, I clocked out. I'm gone."
You say, heading back to the front.
>"Can I go with you?"
She asks, still clutching the counter.
>"Mary, you live downtown. There's no way I'm driving all the way up there."
>"I don't need to go home, just anywhere else but here."
She grabs your right hand shaking it vigorously.
>"No,"
You forcefully retract your hand,
>"besides, you have a car right?"
>>"Sure I DID, but some... Some asshole tried to run a red light and crashed right into my car..."
She slams a fist into her hand, acting out the scenario.
>"Wait really? That's why you were so late?
>>"Yeah..."
She looks away with a wry expression on her face.
>>"... And that asshole may or may not have been me, but you know. Details.
>>452456
"No way I'm doing this for free. You got some weed or something?"
>>452456
OP I'm very interested in this story and check daily for more updates. Pls post more frequently!
>>452506
Thanks, I'm glad you like it! I'd really like to, unfortunately I don't have a lot of time lately. My schedule should clear up a little more in the next few days. Until then I'll try my best to at least get one out each day.
>"... Seriously?"
Mary asks, somewhat offended.
>"It's going to take me a solid hour to take you home . It's the least you could do."
She places her hands in her hoodie pockets, and looks at the floor, annoyed.
>"Cass, I don't just carry that stuff around, we'll have to go back to my --"
>...
>oh...
>Oh!
Mary's left hand emerges from her hoodie pocket, retrieving a small bag of pot.
>"Huh..."
>>452750
Mary hesitates to hand you the bag.
>"Wait, Shouldn't we - you know - exchange this later?"
She looks around nervously.
You assume she's talking about the various cameras around Emmerson's, and scoff.
>>"Who cares. I was going to quit today anyway."
>>"Now hand it over."
All of a sudden, a full swat team busts through the door. They move past you, and head into the back while a few of them stay behind and secure the front.
You gaze at the police in the front who seem to pay you no mind.
>"What? It's fucking weed. Get over yourselves."
They shove you down, and zip tie your hands together behind your back.
They do the same to Mary who keeps repeating "It's not mine!" over and over again.
>>452753
Fuck the police, and you don't need your hands to take them down . . . or so your ego tells you. Try to break free like the badass you are.
You try with all your strength to rip the ties apart, but these things are pretty tough.
After a few tense seconds of going room to room, the mood generally lightens as the squads converge back in the front room. After radio conversations full of charlies and alphas, or what ever they were talking about, one of the officers turns their attention toward you.
>"You're just scratching up your wrists."
She says, noticing your attempts at trying to rebel against the system. Come to think of it, all this struggling does hurt quite a lot. The officer was rather tall, completely dwarfing you.
>"So..."
She pulls down the scarf covering her face revealing her nose and mouth.
>"Where is he? Why did he leave you here? and is anyone working with him?"
Her face was scared on the left side, various staples and stitches holding it together. You figure this was her attempt at trying to humanize her fear inducing equipment, but in her case it back fired. She's probably seen a lot of action, and if you were in a good mood you might respect that, but you're not.
>"What the hell are you talking about, Frankenstein."
The woman opens her mouth as if she was about to say something, but stops her self. She moves her hand towards her face confirming she sees the connection, but her expression shows she doesn't appreciate your amazing wit.
>"You're pretty funny, kid. Must make a lot of people laugh."
You continue to writhe on the floor, twisting and pulling at the ties around your wrists.
>"What the fuck are you going to do, huh?"
You ask, sensing hostility in her tone.
>"Oh, I'm going to do my job. You? You're going to tell me everything you know. This little interaction goes well and we can all go home after this."
She replies.
>"Now I'll ask one more time. Where is your manager?"
>>453838
You might consider telling her where Mark is if you actually knew. The thing is, you don't, and her asking you something you don't know pisses you off even more.
Angrily tell her to do her job and find him herself.
ask her to show you her full face, i bet she's actually a cutie past the scars
>>453942
>>453996
>"How the hell should I know? Isn't finding people YOUR job?"
The woman looks around at the other squad members as if they're having some silent conversation using subtle gestures. Staring at her half obscured face kind of gives you the desire to see the rest, but your anger at the situation makes that a fleeting thought.
>"Alright kid, here's the situation. Your manager seems to have taken the other employees hostage, but he must have moved them somehow."
The woman lifts you up to your feet. She begins to search you.
>"For now we're going to take you into custody for your safety. The guy must have missed you, forgotten about you maybe... Either that, or you were left here purposefully."
Suddenly, one of the squad members exits the fridge, motioning the woman to investigate something; you slowly creep your way towards Mary.
>"We're boned Cas..."
You roll your eyes.
>"They don't care about the fucking weed. They said Mark went nuts and took everyone hostage."
You tell her in a hushed tone.
Mary tilts her head to the side curiously.
>"If Mark went crazy he would have put at LEAST five bullets in YOU."
You look over your shoulder at the other squad members watching you.
>"Yeah, that's what's weird about this... I think... I think Mark is trying to frame me."
Mary's face turns skeptical.
>"Frame you? For what? You don't have any hostages... Well, not that I know of."
You lower your head, deep in thought.
>"I - uh - I don't know, but something's weird about this."
You both nervously look around.
>"What do we do, Cas?"
>>454014
Check around to see that noone is looking and make a mad dash to the exit
>>454014
"Since Mark is deranged kidnapper and wanted criminal, I guess that makes me the manager. Smoothie?"
>>454019
yeah because it's not like the swat team is just going to have the outside perimeters totally surrounded or anything. Casper doesn't know of him, but I still don't fully trust Reed. I say we sit tight and at least wait for something drastic to happen before we blindly run into the firing range.
>>454014
Do the Impossible. Fight the Power.
>>454052
Yeah, but that's where the action is. And with luck he might even become Casper the Friendly Ghost!
I say we do the exact opposite of what you just suggested. It is the spice of life.
>>454019
>>454057
>>454058
You look around the room. The swat team members seem to be distracted, but they also don't go too long without looking at you two. They'll most likely see you, but you figure you could juke these assholes and make it all the way to the end zone. You hop to your feet and begin to make a run for it. You're quickly cut off and tackled to the ground, spraining one of your ankles; Not even a first down.
>"Ah! Fuck! Get off me!"
One of the guys picks you up and shoves you back down by Mary.
>"Stupid idea, kid."
>"Police brutality, asshole."
You remark, grinding your teeth in anger.
Mary looks at you, upset.
>"What the hell! You were gonna leave me!"
>>"No, I was EXPECTING you to go with me - you know - at the same time."
In reality, you WERE expecting her to go with you, but more as bait than anything else.
Suddenly, Frankenstein returns; She begins to speak, but cuts herself off, noticing the slight winces of pain in your expression.
>"What's up, you hurt yourself?"
You click your tongue, showing your disgust with your failed attempt to run.
>"How come every time I leave the room one of the suspects gets injured when I come back?"
She asks, slightly angered.
>"Sorry about that, kid. You alright?"
Suddenly, you overhear a voice on Frankenstien's radio. You can't quite hear what it's saying, but the voice causes all of the squad members to turn their attention to the front door, and windows. They're distracted, now might be your chance to hobble away.
>>454156
"I am bored, Do you got some weed?" said the police guy.
>>454156
Yell 'Am I Being Detained!' and start listing off all your rights as a free citizen of the world.
That'll stump them.
>>454162
You didn't care what they were up to; Frankenstien's "sympathy" towards you caused your anger to boil to a point of no return.
>"You guys don't have any fucking right to hold me here!"
>"Quiet!" Frankenstien sharply barks.
The squad watches the front with their weapons raised; A few men linger in the back, covering the rear.
>"You don't have anything on me!"
You shout, as if your voice were being stolen away.
>"Kid, I swear..."
Frankenstien mutters.
>"This whole thing is bullshit, if you're after Mark then why don't you go get HIM. That's you're fucking job right?!"
Suddenly, you hear dozens of sharp impacts coming from the outside against the asphalt. The doors fly open, unleashing a hoard of beasts.
The grotesque beings storm the restaurant in a mess of spindly limbs, and gnashing teeth.
It was mere seconds before one of them had latched onto a squad member and began ripping his face off with one fierce bite.
>>454786
You yell all sorts of obscenities as you immediately shoot to your feet, the adrenaline diminishing your sprained ankle enough for you to gallop. Bullets fly as you make your way to the back, Mary trailing behind you.
The large door to the fridge seems like good enough cover to you if you could get it open. While the beasts and the SWAT were trading casualties, you turn your back towards the door and pull it open with your hands.
As you stagger into the fridge, you crash into a stack of boxes spilling hot dogs all over the floor; You collapse and quickly clamber into the furthest corner of the fridge.
>"Were they -- Was that what you were..."
You keep pushing your body back with your hands, trying to scoot as far back as possible from the fridge door.
Mary stands at the door gripping it shut using her full weight in hopes of stopping anything that may come after them.
>>"I don't know - I don't think so."
Mary replies, breathing heavily.
She looks back at the Freezer door, and then at you. In an instant you both realize two large doors are probably better than one, and the door won't lock you inside; Although at this point that might have been a good thing.
You struggle to your feet, this time taking significantly more effort, and pull the door open. Mary lets go of the fridge door and runs inside, you follow shortly after.
As soon as you enter the freezer you're greeted with a trail of blood on the floor, leading from a pile of bags filled with uncooked fries, to an ominous hole in the ground partially covered by a large box stuffed with frozen meat.
You crash into the ground, unable to take the pain in your ankle.
>"Cass, we can't stay in here..."
Mary, fearfully glancing at the hole.
>"We can't go out there either."
You reply, gripping your ankle.
Making your way into the freezer surely bought you some time, but what to do now?
>>454787
The shock of everything that has just happened causes you to ignore the stench of blood in the air. You use this time to think about other things; and speaking of things, there are probably plenty more of the creatures outside. Maybe Mary knows what they are? At the very least, she can make a good meat shield.
>>454797
>"Any idea what those were?"
Mary, sits down across from you.
>"Nope. There's no way they were what I saw though..."
She looks down at her shoes.
>"That thing was bigger... definitely."
The idea that there may be a bigger beast out there causes both of you to feel even more uneasy, and further convinces you two to stay put for now.
Mary suddenly breaks her zip tie, pulling her arms in front of her.
The action both astounds you, and makes you feel extremely weak.
>"How did you...?"
>>"What? The ties? Not that hard, they're just zip ties."
She replies, sensing your embarrassment.
>"I'm kidding, here."
Mary tosses you a bent pipe with a sharp, flat, jagged end.
>"It was just lying on the floor over here."
You give her an angry look, not at all appreciating her playful demeanor.
You wrangle the pipe just so as to begin sawing away at your ties, eventually you're able to rip them apart as well.
Minutes pass after the commotion died down outside. At this point the freezer became a safe haven, and both you and Mary begin to feel more comfortable within; At the same time your apprehension at the prospect of going outside continued to grow.
>"This was gonna be my last day, you know."
You state, staring off into the distance.
>"Cass, you say that every day," Mary remarks.
>>"Yeah but I was for real this time. This job sucks... Even without the face eating monsters."
Mary gives a wry smile in response to your humor.
>"I mean - Any job you can get right now is going to suck. You just have to find the one that sucks the least until you can get a good one,"
She sighs, hugging her knees.
>"Honestly, this job isn't all that bad compared to a lot of other stuff."
>>454877
Suddenly you hear the fridge door open, both you and Mary retract to the back of the freezer. You grasp the pipe for defense, but the impromptu weapon feels smaller and smaller as the seconds pass.
The freezer door flies open, and on the other side an exhausted Frankenstein stands, weapon firmly in her hands.
>"Had a feeling you two were in here. Just needed to be sure nothing ELSE was."
>>454878
"What the *fuck* was that out there?! I thought Mark was the criminal, so how do you explain *that*?"
>>454878 #
Seriously!? A horde of fugly creepers are out there wanting to eat your face off and this bitch here is acting like is no big deal.
(That's not fair at all...)
Ignore your shaking knees and your aching ankle, demonstrate how much of a stone cold badass you can be:
>Demand some exposition of what exactly is going on here.
>>455122
>>454945
Following the intense violence and fear you've just experienced, you demand answers.
>"So what the *fuck* was that?!
Frankenstein briefly looks over her shoulder, then approaches you and Mary.
>"*Something* decided your work place here was a good spot for their nest."
>"What you saw were its children. This isn't the first *something* we've dealt with, and we've been looking for this one in particular for a while."
You throw out your arms in disgust.
>>"Really?! You weren't going to tell us about this shit?!"
You stumble to your feet; Mary helps you up despite your protests.
>"Ideally we would have had you out of here by now, but apparently the children got a little hungry..."
>>"You were just going to let us believe Mark went crazy?"
Mary's voice trembles with anger.
>"You, and the rest of country. If we say a human being did it, people will believe it. Doesn't matter what they did before, or what their family thought of them; Tech guys do a little bit of editing, and the story checks out. We don't even have to explain it, really."
You turn and look at the hole, realizing its implications and shudder thinking you spent any extended period of time in the freezer.
>"What about us?"
You ask, fearing you might not *fit* within their story.
Frankenstein pauses for a moment, and changes the subject.
>>"You... actually might still be a part of this."
>>"The 'Queen' usually grabs someone near a place where it wants to build a nest, and turns them into its Scout. The worst part is that they don't even know they're working under the Queen. The Scouts hallucinate all sorts of things just to give them a reason to be doing what they're doing; They probably don't even see the 'Queen' for what it really looks like."
>>"We're thinking you, or at least one of your coworkers were converted."
>>455152
Immediately assume it's you.
Then ask for a 5 min explaination as to the reproduction habits of the monsters, and whether or not you can leave now.
>>455165
This. Also give a nervous glance to your fine co-worker.
Look it's obvious what the thing to do is here. you could be in a movie. if you get naked right now you probably won't be in a movie. nobody can market that.
>>455178
>>455165
Both you and Mary look at each other nervously.
>"How can you tell?"
You ask.
>>"Through interrogation; Most of the time we're able to catch the Scout on something they hallucinated through events that don't really add up. Other than that, I guess they tend to act a little more *human* than others."
>"More human? Really?"
You furrow your brow, giving Frankenstein an incredulous look.
>>"Yeah, if we can't grab *all* the suspects, that's all we got."
She replies, in a curt tone.
You stand there in silence, trying to recall all of the things you've done in recent memory. Despite how futile it might be to examine yourself, you're still giving it a shot out of the fear that you might be this *Scout*.
>"... So where's - you know - the King?"
Mary asks.
>>"The *King* is already dead. We got him during our last run-in with these things."
>"Is that what happened to your face?"
You ask, out of pure curiosity and not at all as some kind of burn... Well maybe kind of as a burn.
>"No, *that* was how I got the job."
Frankenstein replies, briefly reflecting on something before glancing over her shoulder again.
>"Alright, look, we're going to move you to where we have the rest of the employees while we look for the missing people."
Mary reacts fearfully to the idea of going back outside.
>"Are there any more of those things?"
>>"We killed around thirteen. Five outside, and eight inside. A typical litter is around twenty-five, but the rest are gone for now. Don't worry, you're going somewhere safe."
This whole thing seems like something out of a movie. Maybe this is a hallucination? What if you're the Scout, Frankenstein is the Queen, everything else is a hallucination, but you're hallucinating this just to make you think that if you were hallucinating surely you wouldn't hallucinate the explanation for why you were hallucinating?
...
This line of thought hurts your head.
>>451309
>>455477
>>455481
Your name is Lyso -- Liz McDerby, and you seem to have found yourself either in a very serious predicament, or following the ramblings of a mad man.
You've found yourselves in the backyard of a seemingly average two-story suburban house. Reed suggests this might be a good time to rest, and you assume he might know the home owner. Dublin quickly makes himself at home, reclining in a lawn chair while listening to his music; You decide to join him in an adjacent chair.
>>Why are we here?
Mark asks, frustrated.
>"That's a fairly large question that I'm not equipped to answer."
Reed replies. Mark simply answers him with a frustrated glare.
>"I'm tired of your *jokes* Why did you lead us here? This your house?"
Reed pauses, his expression showing confusion.
>"... I was following you all."
>>"We've been following -- !"
Mark turns and begins walking towards the backyard fence gate.
>"That's it. I'm going back to the store. The cops are probably there by now."
>>"Mark, they're going to kill you."
>"Nobody's going to lay a finger on --"
Suddenly the butt of a shotgun strikes Mark in the head, knocking him out cold. An older man steps out from around the corner outside of the fence gate.
>"The hell you all doin' in here?"
He asks, irritated.
>>455482
Break down sobbing and throw yourself at Reed's feet, begging him to save you.
Then, once the old man inevitably invites you in for tea and cookies, rob him blind.
Just like you used to back during your youth spent on the mean streets of Harlem.
>>455482
"Looking for the bathroom..?"
>>455724
>>455585
You didn't quite grow up in Harlem, but there was this one time in high school where you distracted a store clerk while your buddies stole a bunch of shit... Glancing at Dublin you notice he hasn't been seen yet.
>"Sorry sir, we didn't mean to trespass it's just my dog ran away, and this guy needs to use your bathroom."
You motion to Reed; Meanwhile Dublin takes this opportunity to position himself against the wall around the corner from the old man.
>"You..."
>"You're the one..."
The old man spaces out for a moment; Reed takes the opportunity to quickly draw his handgun and shoots the old man three times which causes him to fall; The old man fires his gun, sending buckshot directly into the ground at your feet causing you to jump back a few feet.
>"Jesus!"
Dublin exclaims, startled.
>>"You didn't have to kill them!"
The man shouts, trying to lift his shotgun to shoot again.
>"You've never met this man in your lives, correct?"
Reed asks, forceibly retrieving the old man's shotgun.
>"What the hell, Reed?!"
You begin fumbling for your phone, ready to dial 9-1-1.
>>"I take it none of you have done any killing recently, or ever?"
Reed says, noticing you pull out your phone.
>>"Don't. This man's already dead. Chances are he's lost everything and he doesn't even know it."
The old man futilly tries to drag himself away, he stops and looks up at Reed who is walking along side of him.
>"Why won't you... leave us alone. I don't want to hurt anyone... But you keep comin' back... I have to... I can't..."
The old man's eyes fill with tears as he grips his wound.
>"Please... My wife..."
Reed prepares to put the man out of his misery.
Everything is happening so fast, but what Reed is doing doesn't make any sense. Who the hell is this guy, and how does he know Reed? Is this the *perpetrator*? You don't really seem too psyched about watching Reed execute this guy, but at the same time what does Reed know that you don't?
>>455981
Alright, it's time to stop screwing around and take control of the situation.
Shoot Reed. It doesn't have to be a fatal shot, but just enough to establish your dominance.
Then, take a deep breath and start demanding that everyone calm down and stop shooting eachother. Get some answers.
Like you learnt growing up with gangbangers in innercity Los Angeles.
>>455981
Level a weapon at Reed and fire a warning shot. He's been spouting crazy talk all night, but he hasn't shown any proof. He's either going to present some evidence or Liz is going to call the cops, again.
>>456105
>>456055
>>456016
You grab the shotgun from the bag and aim it at Reed. He notices you, and slowly turns his head.
>"... Are we making a habit out of this, Liz?"
His nonchalant atitude frustrates you.
>>"I don't know, are we making a habit out of you never explaining shit."
He puts his gun away. Meanwhile, Dublin goes to check on the old man.
>"What do you want to know?"
Reed turns toward you, giving you his full attention.
>>"You can start with why you're about to murder this guy."
You ask, glancing over at Dublin and the old man.
>"He would've shot you if I didn't get him first."
>>"Why?"
>"Because he's being controlled something told him to keep people away from this house at all costs.
>>"People don't like other people tresspassing on their property Reed; That's kind of a normal thing."
>"No, he's protecting a nest... Maybe an escape route."
>>"A Nest?"
>"There was one at your job, and there might be one here. If we look inside the house you'll get your answers."
Dublin looks up at Reed.
>"Haven't we done enough, man!"
He shouts, staring at the now seemingly deceased old man.
>"We got away from the cops right? Let's just go..."
Reed's face resembles something sympathetic as he searches for his next words.
>"You don't get it. Neither of you can go 'home' any more. That'll be the first place they'll look."
>"I can ensure your safety, get you away from here, and set you up somewhere else; but we're not done here yet, and you have to trust me.
Reed made the old man out to be a misguided killer controlled by some unknown force, but who the hell is Reed; He killed a man, and is now saying the answer lies past a little bit of breaking and entering? You're not a complete stranger to the act, but it seems a little more heinous with the home owner sitting out here bleeding to death.
Send Dublin in the house first
>>456494
You can't really do much to control the situation, answers seem to be the only thing obtainable so get him to talk, get into detail about these "things".
>>456509
This. Also, maybe there's something in the house that can help with the bleeding out soon to be dead guy.
>>456494
Reed's answers aren't good enough; Nests? 'They'? 'Trust me?
These are all things a crazed nut would use to excuse their behavior. You've seen this sort of thing before, growing up in the Oregon school system. He hasn't given a shred of evidence to support his claims so far, all he's done is arm you and shoot a man, who is apparently under the mind control of 'something'. He's clearly running from the police, he probably murdered the original guy you found in the freezer, and if there were aliens or whatever running around your fast food joint, you'd probably have noticed.
Enough is enough. Get Reed on the floor, bind him down, call the police. He's clearly delusional, and you need to stop this before it gets out of hand. You're already a witness to the attempted murder of a man, if you don't get help now you'll become an accomplice too.
Fuck Reed, the guy's a dick.
On an unrelated note, keep up the good work!
Loving it so far, and I think you're holding the record for longest running 'Webcomic' on /i/.
Most give up after a week. Hang in there!
>>456636
>>456509
Reed's gone on long enough. You've yet to see anything that even slightly supports the claims he's been making. You put a lot of trust in him, and the best he can give you is more vague answers.
>"Reed. We're calling the police, and you're staying right here."
Reed sighs, and lazily lifts his hands into the air.
>"This doesn't end well for you..."
>>"Is that a threat?"
>"No. A premonition.
You glance at Dublin.
>"Call the cops."
While Dublin fumbles around with his phone, Reed reflects on his thoughts for a moment, and then sparks up.
>"I get it now... It's all of you isn't it? You're all under control. Look, the only way to free yourselves is to kill the perpetrator."
You aggressively brandish your shotgun.
>"If it's controlling me, Why am I not shooting you right now?"
>>"The same reason the old man didn't pull the trigger quicker. You're weak minded. The perpetrator can push you half way there, but you have doubts about yourself, even under suggestive mind control."
Reed's face contorts into a twisted smile showing some form of excitement.
>>"It's interesting. It can't take mental conditions into account. A depressed person under suggestive mind control is still depressed..."
Dublin raises up his right arm, waving his phone around.
"Alright, I called the cops!"
Finally being in control of the situation makes you feel a little better about yourself. Your SELF-ESTEEM increases from: 7 to 8.
Your Current Rating is: "I guess I can do some stuff, but I still generally suck."
>"The Perpetrator really drew the short straw on this one... no offense."
Suddenly, Mark strikes Reed in the side of his head with his right fist. The sudden impact knocks him out, and he falls to the ground.
>"Let's tie him up. We'll wait until the cops show."
>>456685
The three coworkers agree to tie up Reed and wait for the cops. Liz is curious about the house. She asks Mark and Dublin if they should investigate the house. Maybe Reed was telling the truth, to an extent. Searching the house could provide answers about Reed and their situation.
>>456685
Now seems like a good time to go find something to stop the old man from dying. Also, if Reed wasn't a complete psychopath, and was actually just a really edgy anti-hero, it might make some sense to be on guard for any rustling bushes. Help everyone inside the house, assuming it's open.
Hey guys. This is the first time I'm going to try something like this. I got inspired to try my own "quest" after reading "Minimum Wage Hero," which you can find here: >>451295
I'm hoping some of you people are interested! Just letting you all know, there will be some dating sim elements to this quest. Anyway, on with the premise...
You are a young adult male who has just been hired at a fine dining establishment. This will be your first day on the job where your sous chef (and more importantly your new coworkers) will feel you out and see how comfortable you are in this environment. But before we get started, what do you look like?
[spoiler]I'll try my best to mold any replies into one outcome instead of favoring just one.[/spoiler]
>>456702
Oh my fucking god, disregard this post. I totally fucked up, thought this tab in my browser was /i/ and not this particular thread. This is embarrassing and cringe-worthy. Just ignore it and move on.
>>456703
you can delete posts some time after you make them you know
>>456685
You've already shot the dude, what harm is a lil' B and E? OH, and draw a penis on Reed's forehead.
>>456694
>>456701
Reed's insane ramblings still send a chill down your spine. What if he's right? I mean - that's crazy, there's nothing supporting what he was saying, but at the same time... What's his angle? Why bring all of you out here, or try to "help" you.
You stare deeply into the windows of the house trying to see anything, but your eyes find nothing but a dark void.
>"We gotta get him inside."
Dublin says, preparing to lift the old man up.
>"What the hell are *we* going to do?"
Mark says while binding Reed's arms around a sturdy pipe leading to the water meter at the side of the house.
>"Well we need to do *something*."
Dublin stares at the old man, remorsefully.
Mark sighs.
>"Best thing we can do is leave him right where he is until the ambulence gets here."
>>"We should go inside."
You abruptly interject.
>"What if Reed's right?"
Mark groans, irritated at your proposition.
>"If he's right about anything it's that you really *can't* make up your mind..."
You give mark an annoyed glare.
>>"I think we should do it. Maybe we can find something to at least help this guy a little.."
Dublin chimes in.
>"Don't you think it'll look bad for us if the cops find out we broke into the old man's house?"
You walk up to the sliding glass door in the back, and give the door a tug swinging it open.
>"Technically, we don't have to *break* in."
>>456917
You make your way inside the house, Dublin nervously trailing behind you, and Mark now carrying Reed's bag of fun in the back. The house is spotless, aside from the black sheets covering all the windows, you'd assume the place was being sold; It was the spitting image of a department store catalog.
>"Looks like a normal house to me..."
Mark scoffs, hiding his slight relief.
>"Yeah, but Emmerson's didn't look any different either."
You say, looking around at the Old Man's family pictures.
The old man, his wife, his daughter, and his son. A picture perfect family, fit for this picture perfect house, but where *is* the rest of the family?
You seem to be in a LIVING ROOM. Adorning the walls are all sorts of photos of this family; Vacations, formal occasions, everything you'd imagine a normal family might want to document. A book shelf sits at the far end of the room packed with books on fishing, history books, and some romantic fiction. Not too far from the book shelf sits an old television atop a cabinet which looks like it hadn't been used in some time.
The Living Room also lets out into a hallway. Down the hall and to the left there seems to be a KITCHEN, there's also a HALL CLOSET in this hallway. A few feet to the side of the hall closet sits a STAIR CASE leading up to the second floor.
>>456918
Maybe the family's upstairs. Go and check.
>>456918
Find the guy some first aid kit, it should be either in a bathroom, the kitchen or one of the closets.
Quickly, you have no time to lose, look through all of them at once.
First aid is more important. Also we don't want to waste time the cops are on their way right?
>>457107
>>456983
>>456946
You search aimlessly for a bathroom, and eventually find one further down the hall.
>"There might be a first aid kit in there."
Dublin nods his head and bounds into the bathroom immediately beginning to search the cupboards within.
Meanwhile, you and mark begin your search of the kitchen. You find a chore list detailing all sorts of monotonous chores right down to dusting the attic. There are two doors, one leads to a pantry filled with the bare essentials; Beans, corn, rice, all types of canned food. The other door is locked with a padlock from the outside, and needs a key to be opened.
Mark pulls a set of keys out of his pocket which definitely aren't his manager keys. He senses your confusion based on the strange look you're giving him.
>"Found em' on the Old man. If that back door wasn't open I sure as hell wasn't going to let you two bust a window."
Eventually one of the keys opens the lock, and Mark pulls the door open.
You're greeted with a staircase descending to a basement flooded in darkness.
Not long after, Dublin rejoins you empty handed. He notices the door to the basement, and the sight of it visibly gives him chills.
>"You guys aren't seriously gonna go down there?"
You and Mark glance at each other, Mark shrugs.
>"Well there was nothing anywhere else in the kitchen, and I take it *you* didn't find anything."
Dublin motions behind him.
>"We could check upstairs, *further* away from the dark creepy basement."
>>457197
Tell Dublin he can search upstairs if he's so afraid of the dark. Mark and I can go downstairs and see if anything's down there.
Hey OP, great job. I'm really loving this story, but sometimes it can get confusing trying to tell who is speaking at any given time. Can you make it a little clearer who is talking on each line?
>>457210
>>457198
>>457215
Dublin agrees to the purposed plan, and dashes back into the hall, determined on thoroughly searching the second floor.
You and Mark begin to descend into the darkness.
>"So... I'm pretty sure the old man's dead..."
Mark says, as you pull out your phone to use it as a flashlight.
>"He didn't have much of a chance as it was. Reed was packing hollow-points, and the old man was gut shot pretty bad." He adds.
You both reach the bottom of the steps, as Mark nervously continues to try and make conversation.
>"I swear, I'd be thankful for a fucking band-aid at this point."
You begin looking around the dark, mildew scented, concrete dungeon finding a few stray tools, and a couple of large boxes; One marked Halloween decorations, the other marked Christmas decorations.
Mark keeps going, searching a desk in one corner of the basement.
>"I guess it didn't hurt to try. I mean that's the shit you think about years from now, right? The shit that helps you sleep."
Mark continues rambling...
>"We're all probably going to need to find new jobs after this... "
>"A buddy of mine works over at a new place on Anderson and Blackwood. Says the whole operation is a hell of a lot cleaner. I could probably have him hook you up if you want..."
Annoyed at your silence, Mark grows a bit hostile.
>"Christ, Liz, after what happened tonight you *still* aren't even a *little* bit more talkative."
You've been distracted by a bookcase along one of the walls.
>"Who keeps a bookcase in the basement?"
You ask, searching its shelves.
You position yourself at one side of the bookcase.
>"Come on, help me with this."
Mark sighs and makes his way to the other side. Behind the bookcase was a rather large hole in the wall leading out into a dug in alcove which proceeds to lead even further down into the darkness.
>>457277
Before you could investigate further, Dublin interrupts, bounding down the stairs.
>"Guys - uh - I found - ehm...!"
As Dublin struggles to explain, a small figure reveals itself at the top of the stairs.
>"You can't be down here. You'll wake the babies."
The figure calls out from the top of the stairs. You and Mark realize this must be the daughter, and slowly make your way up the stairs.
>"Sorry about trespassing - uh - your dad, he's hurt and we were looking for a first aid kit to help him."
The young girl's eyes dart back and forth between the three of you.
>"Oh."
She replies, looking down at her shoes.
>"Do you have any medical supplies? Anything to help?"
Mark asks, trying to soften his tone as much as possible.
>"I do, but I can't... Is he dying?"
She asks.
You, Mark, and Dublin exchange forlorn looks. You speak up...
>"Yes... but we called the cops, and there should be an ambulance here soon.
The young girl's eyes light up.
>"You have phones?! Can I see one?"
Her excitement towards your phones surprises and bewilders you. You begin to try and reaffirm more important matters.
>"Look. We really need --"
The young girl cuts you off.
>"You can have everything! All of it! For the phone!"
>>457278
Tell Dublin to give the girl his phone so that you will still have one if she runs away with it.
>>457283
>>457284
You motion to Dublin.
>"Hey, give her your phone."
>"*My* phone?! What do you need to use it for?" Dublin replies, outraged.
The little girl looks up at Dublin.
>"We just need it. Please."
Dublin places his hand over his pocket as if someone were trying to reach in and grab his phone.
>"I - I don't know - I mean, I might have some *pictures* on there..."
>"Just do it." Mark says.
>"Why don't you guys do it?!" Dublin yells.
Both you and Mark look at each other, and then turn your gaze towards Dublin.
>"Fine. Whatever." Dublin concedes, handing the girl his phone.
She taps the power button and the light from the phone illuminates her face. Suddenly she looks up at Dublin...
>"It's locked. What's the password?"
Dublin snatches the phone back from the girl.
>"No way. That's where I draw the line..." He says, placing the phone back into his pocket.
You roll your eyes.
>"Just give her the password," You say.
>"No man, it's my pin." Dublin replies, slowly moving further away from the kid.
>"Why would you -- Who cares, she's a freaking kid anyway." Mark comments, already irritated at the whole interaction.
Dublin sighs, and pulls the phone back out of his pocket.
>"Alright look, I'll enter it, and then you just keep tapping it or something so it doesn't lock again. Okay?"
He hands the unlocked phone to the little girl, and she immediately runs up stairs and to her room.
Dublin is petrified, his face stuck in a shocked expression.
>"You didn't see that one coming?" you remark.
>"Yeah, it was pretty obvious." Mark adds.
>"You guys are assholes." Dublin says, then promptly rushes after the girl.
>>457298
You and Mark follow Dublin to the girl's room. Cans of food, bottles of water, and boxes of all sorts of medical supplies are stashed all over.
The little girl fixes a shirt to the end of a stick and props it up so it's hanging outside of her window. She holds the phone as if she's about to use it, but decides against it.
>"Here," She hands the phone back to Dublin.
>"What is all this?" You ask.
>"Food, water, and some medical stuff." She says, her gaze fixed looking outside of her window.
She quickly motions her hand downwards signaling you all to get down.
"Hi Mr. Ross!" The girl calls outside.
Shortly after, you hear an older gentleman call out...
>"Hey! What're you doin' girl?!"
>"I'm drying my shirt! I washed it myself! See!" The little girl shakes the shirt hanging off the stick around excitedly.
>The old man chuckles heartily, "Well I just heard a few bangs go off around here. Just checkin' to see you're okay."
>The little girl pauses for a bit, "...Dad found a few more possums!"
>"Ah, well, hope he got the last of those suckers... You go on to sleep girl, it's a little late for laundry." The old man chuckles again as he walks back across the street.
>"Oh. Okay! G'night!" The little girl shuts her window and puts a black sheet up over it.
>"What the hell is going on?" You ask, getting up off of the floor.
>"The parents started changing. They'd go down to the basement and start working, and if anyone tried to stop them they'd kill them." She explains, while slipping on goal keeping gloves.
She takes a rather hefty baseball bat from under her bed.
>"That's what happened to my real Mom..."
>>457299
>double update
Fuck yeah.
Ask the girl what happened to her mom. How does she know Ross? Are they trying to survive and defend themselves from the infected people? What is Ross's plan?
>>457299
Okay, so this raises a bunch of questions. So many you would probably need a good hour of exposition.
Until then, though, you should probably get Reed inside this 'safe room' before he inevitably escapes and becomes a villain.
It's clear that you've found yourself in hicksville, considering that this girl has multiple parents, one of which was clearly also her grandfather.
However, you mustn't discount paranoia. This situation is slowly turning from Mystery Thriller to Horror, and if you know one thing about rednecks, it's that they make for great slasher fodder. That basement is clearly their butcher lab. Or Wine Cellar.
In the spirit of the occasion, christen the young girl 'Newt'. She looks like one.
>>457299
Realize that when the girl says "Dad found a few more possums" she is probably talking in code and is referring to you and your team.
When you see her reach for the baseball bat, you assume she is going to try and fight you. You defecate your britches slightly before getting your gun at the ready.
Check on reed an make sure he's still there, and ask the girl about the tunnel in the basement
>>457399
>>457325
>>457309
>>457300
>"What are you talking about?"
You ask, but the young girl who - given the circumstances - you can't help but call Newt doesn't seem too keen on explaining in further detail, she instead leaves her room, and heads down stairs.
>"Hey, where are you going?"
You call after, following the girl.
She ends up at the back door where you came in, waiting.
You hear a particular knock on the glass; One time, four times, one time. The young girl opens the back door, and standing out side are two other kids - one older boy, and another boy slightly younger - both as disheveled as the young girl.
The oldest boy begins to speak in a hushed tone.
>"Your dad... did you?"
>"No, it was them." She motions towards you and your group.
>"Oh... well... sorry." The oldest stirs in silence for a few seconds.
>"Who 're these guys?" he asks.
>"They're not from around here. I don't think they're like the others." Newt responds.
>"*like the others?* Anyone care to let us know what's going on?" You ask, irritated.
The oldest sighs, and begins to explain...
>"Our moms and dads changed. Some days they'd be just fine, but others they'd get violent if you said the wrong thing or tried to leave... They made holes in the floor or in the basement, and everyone that wasn't like them they'd feed to the monsters every once and a while."
>"Well... Whatever's going on, we called the cops." Mark states.
The oldest shakes his head.
>"Ain't gonna help. The parents just act like nothin', and the kids... Well the cops won't believe stories about monsters..."
>"...Even if they did believe us, the parents would kill 'em if they tried to take us away."
Suddenly, Reed begins to speak up.
>"The cops on their way right now are *going* to shoot first. As soon as their reason for lighting up a neighborhood is spotless, they're going to clean this place out.."
He states, still tied up at the side of the house. Funny, you half expected him to magically disappear...
>>457677
Welp, you're in over your head. You can try to do something, but answers are merely more questions, so they aren't worth persuing anymore. It's time to make assumptions.
Reed is a nutter, but he wasn't entirely wrong; his claims about the police are unsubstantiated, but something is going on here.The hole back at work was suspiciously familiar to what these kids describe.
Therefore, the chances are that it was a monster that killed and mutilated the man you found earlier. If Reed were right about mind control, and these parents were slaves, then these kids must have served a purpose, otherwise they, too, are slaves, or they would have been killed.
There isn't much to do in this situation other than wait for something else to happen, so in the meantime name the two new kids Francis and Bacon, respectively.
Also, High-five Dublin, for being a good sport.
>>457677
Go get Reed and try to figure out why, exactly, the kids have been living in this room like survivalists. They had crazy parents, not a zombie apocalypse.
>>457691
We need to untie reed and get the hell out of the before the cops open fire us.
Also I like more companions so if the kids wanna join us let 'em.
Bump for updates pleeeease I always want to tab in every day and see what is new but they're so few and far between! Keep up the good work!
>>457884
>>457802
>>457691
You face Dublin, and raise your right hand.
His face lights up as he enthusiastically accepts your proposal for a high five.
Your hands collide with a smack; shortly after, the high five turns into a firm, but brief hand shake.
>"Hey, sorry about throwing you under the bus back there... With the phone."
>"Eh, I got it back. It's cool."
Mark looks at the both of you his brow raised.
>"What the *hell* are you two doing?"
>"Was that a high-five?" Reed calls out, "Are you all doing high-fives over there?"
>>457884
>>457802
>>457691
You take stock of the events you've seen with your own eyes in the last few minutes, and sigh.
>"Go untie Reed... He happened to be right... maybe."
Mark grunts in frustration, but proceeds to untie Reed driven by the overwhelming feeling of stepping into something out of his depth. Even if the man is crazy, some of his ramblings seem to line up with what's going on, and all this talk of death compels you to cling to anything that vaguely resembles an answer.
>"We should talk inside."
Reed states, brushing the dirt off of his suit.
>"Who are *you*"
The oldest -- Francis -- asks, as the group enters the house.
>"Don't even ask... He's really bad at answering questions," You reply.
>Reed furrows his brow in confusion, "What? The only reason you don't understand is because you won't believe what I'm telling you."
>He turns towards the children, "Look, I'm someone who understands your situation, and I might know how to fix it."
You shoot Reed an annoyed glare,
>"His name's Reed."
Reed ignores your annoyed demeanor, and decides to continue,
>"So you've all just been living here with *them*?"
Bacon decides to answer his question, his voice quivers as he speaks,
>"W-we live at our houses. Our parents won't let us leave for anything, and if they catch us..."
>"So, you sneaked out?"
Reed asks.
Francis motions towards Newt,
>"Yeah, Sybil put the *red* shirt out..."
>"Red shirt?" Reed asks, turning his gaze toward Newt
She looks around the room,
>"We're leaving tonight, can you help us?"
>>458643
Oh yah, add it to the to-do list.
You've probably got 5 mins before the police show up and get into a shootout with Reed, so you should get your shit together and go. Remember your childhood growing up as an Orator in Ancient Rome, and give a rousing speech worthy of the destruction of Carthage.
>>458676
You give a speech that would make even the most cynical among you weep oceans of tears... Actually, you've never been good at giving speeches, and the ones you have given were patched together with an insufferable amount of *um's*.
You decide instead to be brief, and frank.
>"You can come with us. I don't think either of us wants to be here too much longer."
>"Exactly," Reed interjects, "But we have to stay."
You, Mark, and Dublin all look at Reed with perplexed looks.
>"What?!" Mark snaps, outraged.
>"We have to kill the one that did all of this, did you forget what I told you?"
>"I thought that's what the *cops* were going to do."
>"Yeah, but they'll also kill anything that gets in the way, including the parents of these kids. Even though their parents have changed, I doubt the kids want to see them gunned down."
>"So what? You kill the *perpetrator* and they turn back to normal"
>"Yeah. And *you* too."
Bacon glances at Francis, wide eyed.
>"H-He's talking about *it* right?"
>"Yeah... There's no way..." Francis doubts.
>"If you pay attention you can find ways to kill something by just watching it; Ending a life is just as logical as a simple puzzle," Reed states, "doesn't matter how monstrous that life is."
>"Now, Liz, what do we do? Tell us, how do we start to make this plan of ours to save these people?"
For a moment, you thought your anxiety was playing tricks on you, but unfortunately Reed actually seemed fixated on *your* solution to this problem.
>>458723
Since when did Reed give a shit about the infected? He shot Newts dad in cold-blood!
You have no leads as to the source of this madness, and if Reed doesn't know who to chase, then you're flat out of luck.
However, now is not the time to appear weak. You have been given leadership of the group, so it's time to do something bold/stupid: Go into the basement, and shimmie down that hole.
Let Reed, the guy with the messiah complex, go first, just in case of monsters.
Also pet Newt, for being a good sport.
>>459006
>"*Save these people*? You didn't care about saving - erm - Sybil's dad."
>"Saving people is the point of all this Liz, It just gets complicated sometimes."
>"Right," you say sarcastically.
>"Well, I guess the first place we could start would be that hole in the basement," you propose.
Reed shrugs his shoulders, "Hm... Risky move. No telling if we'll crawl into something that wants to kill us."
You glare at him, sensing a hint of disdain, "That's why you're going first, *hero*."
>"... Fair enough," he concedes.
>"The babies are sleeping. If you're quiet you could get past them," Newt chimes in.
>"They only come out when they're hungry, or someone's being really loud in the basement; That's what happens when the parents want to feed them -- they make a lot of noise and then the kid is..." Newt trails off.
>"We'll be sure to be extra quiet," you state, feigning confidence.
You look over at Newt, sensing what you feel is sadness.
>>459390
You reach to pat her on the head...
>>459391
She effortlessly blocks your shot with a simple glare.
Your confidence goes down a little more.
>>459392
Mark and Dublin stare deeply into the hole in the basement exchanging nervous looks.
>"You, uh... Sure about this Liz?"
>"It's the only way we'll see what's really going on here."
>"That's cool and all, but I just kinda don't want to die."
>"Come on, let's end this." Reed states, kneeling down, preparing to enter the hole.
>Dublin sighs, "Well... one way or another this shit'll be --"
All of a sudden, a loud beeping noise emits from Dublin's pocket grabbing everyone's attention.
He quickly but clumsily pulls his phone out of his pocket. The beeping grows louder, bouncing off the walls of the basement.
>"Turn it off. Now." You demand.
>"Hold on - I - Goddamn it, the password..." Dublin replies.
>"Just turn the volume down. Just --"
Finally, Dublin manages to silence his phone.
You can hear a faint scratching noise coming from the hole.
>>459393
Who was calling dublin?
I'm curious
>>459393
Plant your feet heroically and hold your gun sideways, like a gangsta. Then stay stock still.
Also, the theme of Dad's Army starts playing in the back of your mind. Why is that?:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEDWDAMRBeU
>>459518
>>459397
>"Who was that?" You ask.
>"No one, it was my stupid stopwatch app. Had to have been that kid," Dublin shakes his head as he places his phone back into his pocket.
"Sybil? ... Why?" you ask.
The scratching noise comming from the hole grows louder.
Reed places his right arm in front of you.
>"Back up. What ever might come out of that hole, we have to assume it's going to be fast."
>Mark readies the black duffel bag he borrowed from Reed, "Well shit, I think it's time we..."
He takes out a revolver.
>"What the fuck is this? Are we cowboys?" He asks, brandishing the maticulously engraved gun.
>"Don't blame me about the selection," Reed states, "My arms contact is... a collector."
Once again, another barrage of scratches calls out from the hole, each one louder than the last. You all slowly back away from the sound, then Suddenly the door to the first floor slams shut. Mark and Dublin scramble up the stairs and try to open the door only to find it's been locked from the outside.
>"Shit. Seriously?!" Mark asks, frantically jiggling the handle.
Mark hands Dublin the duffel bag.
>"Alright, watch out. I'm breaking it down."
Mark throws his body at the door, a loud thud echos through out the basement. The scratching gets louder as Mark prepares to throw himself against the door once more.
You ready your shotgun, pointing it at the hole.
You can hear the cracking of the door beginning to give as your eyes stay glued to the mysterious hole.
You see a dark figure begin to crawl out of the hole, its spindly limbs stretching outwards as if it just woke up. You train your gun on the figure; Suddenly a loud crash breaks your concentration.
You hear a gunshot from upstairs as Mark bounds into the kitchen still retaining his momentum from ramming the door. Dublin is startled and backs up, stepping down the stairs a few steps.
>"What did you do with Dillon!?" You hear an older woman yell out.
>>459577
You're very possibly about to die, and the thought has adrenaline coursing through your veins. Your instincts fixate on survival but you find yourself torn between the gunshot and whatever is crawling out from the hole in the basement. You try to make your way to the stairs in a panic, but are interrupted by Dublin who is in your way.
And honestly, whoever fired that gun is a lot less scarier than the creatures emerging from the hole. Force yourself or Dublin up the stairs with you while praying that this basement only has a giant bug infestation and nothing more sinister.
>>459577
Who do they think they're kidding? You and your team are a crack squad of elite professional badasses, no double crossing is going to get in your way.
At this point, though, there's nothing much to do but fire into the hole and back up out the basement. You guys are the ones with the guns.
Time to show them we're not on the run, we're the lads that will stop their little game.
It's time to make them think again. Time to show Hitler who's boss.
>>459577
don't shoot yet, as far as we know there's only one bug creature and we don't need to wake the other 20 up.
Dillon is probs the guy you killed outside, and this is his wife. It must have been somewhat recently that she replaced Newt's *real* mom, so she's definitely involved with the babies/mind control.
grab dublin by the shoulders and push your way up. hope nobody is horrifically injured and see if you can't take the old woman hostage or even her "babies" in the basement hostage by pointing a gun at them or bluffing a bomb/grenade threat.
since they're coming out now we need to know what the dark figures are capable of so we can fight back. this lady--or reed?-- probably knows.
>>459880
>>459592
>>459584
You decide not to fire a shot at the emerging creature in the hopes of not attracting more, and focus your attention on the significantly less spooky people with guns.
Reed notices you heading towards the stairs and calls out to you, "If you're going up, I'll stay behind and cover you."
"Just be careful, they won't hesitate to shoot. These people can't be reasoned with." he says, eyes glued to the hole.
You head up the stairs to find a horrified Dublin clinging to the wall.
"There's - like - five of them out there Liz," he reports, backing even further away from the broken door.
A few yards away from you and Dublin, Mark lies behind a counter clutching his right leg.
You really don't feel like killing any people today, but things got complicated and now it's pretty much a guarantee.
You see Mark peek out the side of the counter and fire a shot from his revolver before a barrage of bullets heads his way.
Reed begins to climb the stairs backwards, inching his way towards you.
"We need to get out of here, now," he states, as he keeps his eyes focused on the hole below.
"What? What happened to covering us?" You ask.
"Too many of them," He says.
A large group of hairy, grotesque, creatures begin spilling out of the hole. Reed motions you and Dublin to go behind the counter with Mark while he begins to open fire on the creatures.
You leap across the exposed gap between the entrance to the basement, and the counter. Not too long after you, Dublin follows.
Reed continues holding off the creatures in the basement, he yells out to you, "We don't have time. Only way out is through them, Shoot!"
So much for saving *these* people you think, as you tightly clutch your shotgun. Despite not being religious, you say what could loosely be defined as a prayer in your head as you pop up from the counter...
>>460126
... only to witness five suburban parents being eaten alive.
Outside front windows you spot a few of the creatures wreaking havoc in the streets.
"Stick together. We'll head upstairs and funnel them."
Shooting people might give you pause, but these things were brutal, and in your mind it was easy to see them as abominations who didn't really need to be here. The adrenaline pumping through your veins lifts your shotgun, but *you* pull the trigger. Sticking close by -- practically back to back -- you, Reed, Mark, and Dublin fend off the creatures as you head upstairs and into Newt's room. While the door has built-in lock, Newt had built a makeshift one using hooks and a sturdy board she would lay across them propped up next to the door against the wall; Not the best "lock" but it should be enough the keep the creatures out. While their teeth seem to be incredibly sharp, the strength of these monsters seems to be lacking.
>>460130
"Great, Now we're stuck here," Mark says, limping his way to Sybil's bed to rest.
"They'll go away and find easier prey. They're hungry, that's why they're so irritable," Reed states, re-tucking his undershirt.
Dublin sighs, "Man I thought we were gonna die... Nice job with that door Mark."
"Not really," Reed interjects, "He dislocated his shoulder, and was shot in the leg."
"Couldn't really help that one now could I?" Mark replies, annoyed.
"Actually, your form was all wrong," Reed explains, "You were simply using your body as a wrecking ball. There are better and quicker ways to break down a door with the tools at our disposal if you had thought about it."
Mark narrows his eyes, "My Form? Christ, I wasn't looking for a fucking ten out of ten back there."
You let out a frustrated sigh, "Alright Reed, cut the crap, you know what those were right? So what just happened then?"
Reed straightens his tie, "The children from the nest are malnourished. The nest below must be poorly maintained if the perpetrator is neglecting its own kids like this..."
"And... What does that mean for us?" You ask.
"The perpetrator's not properly functioning, so we might actually have a chance here," he explains.
You lean up against a wall, listening to the scratching from the *children* ringing through out the house, "So what's the plan?"
Reed briefly pauses, then faces you directly, "I don't know, what IS the plan, Liz?"
Well the first time was a little weird, but this is just ridiculous, Reed seems intent on handing you the leader role here, or at least making you feel like you're leading.
>>460131
Finally getting somewhere.
Stoically observe the situation from Newt's window and consider possible escape routes. Maybe you could shimmy down or leap from roof to roof. The police should be here very soon, but if the coast is clear you should make a run for it.
Also, Reed's onto us, so in the meantime run damage control.
>>460151
"Well," While you walk over to Newt's window something on the ground catches your eye, "Sybil's already got a way out of here."
You pick up a long string of sheets knotted together; As you pull the sheets, you come to find it's tied off at the bottom of Newt's dresser. You examine the drawers to find chunks of concrete and various things weighing it down.
"We'll have to make sure it can hold us," you comment, "But first, we have to fix up Mark."
"Troy, are you familiar with Kocher's Method?" Reed asks.
Dublin scratches his head, "I - uh - I didn't take calculus, man."
Reed stares blankly at Dublin for a moment, "Look around for some medical supplies."
Suddenly you hear shouting, you trace the noise to see Francis stuck inside of a car with two of those monsters harassing him.
"Hey, one of the kids is stuck," you report.
"No way, no more kids," Mark states defiantly.
Dublin halts his search through the room, "It's a kid, dude."
"They tried to kill us, *dude*," Mark responds, wincing as Reed sets his arm.
"They probably had a ... reason for that," Dublin responds.
>>460272
Leave him. Run.
>>460289
After a moment of silence you speak up, "We can't."
"If Reed's right, and we're somehow infected too ... We need to try and get into the nest from somewhere else."
"The kid would slow us down," Reed remarks.
Dublin frowns, "You're crazy, We're talking about letting a kid die here."
"It's not that simple," Reed replies.
"It *is* that simple."
Reed stops tending to Mark, giving Dublin his full attention, "Killing the perpetrator saves more lives, so anything that could jeopardize that goal should be cut loose."
"So it's ... just a numbers game?" Dublin remarks, disdainfully.
"Of course it is!" Reed shouts, "That's what the organization doesn't understand."
"... What organization?" Dublin asks.
" I -- It's," Reed struggles to find words.
"What organization?" you ask, also curious.
"The ... organization likes to pretend it's doing the right thing, but I've seen behind the veil and the reality is just another construct of human idiocy and arrogance. They don't understand that the survival of humanity is dependent on numbers. It's always been numbers."
"All you *need* to know is that I'm here to save you."
Reed turns towards you, "I promise, I'll tell you *everything* later. For now we need to leave while that kid is distracting them."
Not particularly interested in actually witnessing the kid be eaten alive, you all half-heartedly agree to postpone this conversation for a moment while you make your way out of the house and down the street, heading deeper into the neighborhood while Dublin covers his ears until the Francis' cries could no longer be heard.
Dublin - of all people - seemed to have caught Reed in a lie. Despite all the confusion tonight, you felt as if things were just starting to make sense, and then this happens. You're sure pressing Reed for more would result in even more questions but even so they're questions that need to be answered at some point.
>>460392
Talk to Dublin
>>461590
This, yeah. Get a dialogue going. Also, why is Reed white all of a sudden?
Imma bump this thread
BUMP for more!
>>461590
>>461601
After a few minutes of walking in silence, you sink to the back of the group and match your pace with Dublin.
"You alright?" You manage to ask.
"I'm done, I don't care if the cops 'disappear' me," he replies, tightly gripping his hat in his left hand.
"I always hoped I'd be able to *do* something when shit got real - you know? But I didn't do shit... I should have --"
"It was for the best. We need to save our bullets and energy for the big one," You say, with an empathetic, warm smile.
"*The big one*? We're not cops, or soldiers. I-I've never even held a gun before tonight, and we're supposed to go up against the baddest one of these things?" Dublin asks, wringing his Emerson's hat with apprehension.
Something inside of you sparks, an emotion, struck upon by Troy's words like an illusive ore deep within the crust of your subconscious.
"Look. Sometimes ordinary people get made to deal with shitty situations. We've got to do this because doing this ensures that there might just be ten survivors instead of five. When things get like this you have to look at the big picture, and try your best to find a way to help the most people. That... means watching people die, and saving others you'll never meet."
Troy stares at you contemplating your words.
"For now we need to get into that nest," you state, confidently.
He stops completely, and sighs, "... I can't do it. I'm not gonna make it Liz."
"You and me both," You raise your right hand out towards Dublin, "that's why we gotta stick together."
He gives a reluctant smile, and halfheartedly accepts your proposal for a high-five.
While crammed in the back of some kind of police car with your annoying co-worker, the clouds overhead begin to burst, giving way to a relentless rainfall.
"Where are we going?" You ask for the twenty-seventh time.
"Cass, just give it up," Mary says, leaning against the left window of the back seat.
The windows were tinted from the inside so that whoever was kept back here couldn't see outside. It seemed like a lot of work was made to make this appear like a taxi from the outside, but the inside was all business; The back of the car was almost completely isolated apart from a few small holes allowing communication to the front seats.
The car finally reaches a stop, the passenger doors open, and hoods are forced onto your heads. It's light outside, that much is obvious; Light, cold, and wet.
The two of your are marched into a structure with the strong smell of mildew. The police men guide you into a more pleasantly scented elevator within this structure; your stomach turns.
The elevator descends for a few minutes, then slows to a stop. The automatic doors slide open welcoming a cacophony of hushed chatter and rapid footsteps. You tried to listen in, but something was wrong; None of it made sense. No matter how hard you tried to listen to the people around you, it was all complete gibberish. You don't consider yourself a worldly man, but something about the way these people were speaking felt wrong.
Finally, you're ushered into a room. The door shuts behind you, rendering the room almost completely silent. Your hood is removed, and the first thing you see is that son-of-a-bitch Phil from work.
>>463293
Dude, you've been gone a while. Welcome back.
I've forgotten who Phil was, but let's punch him in his stupid nu-male face.
And then, I don't know, get on the floor and do the dinosaur.
Bump of love.
>>463293
Pls come back OP. And ask Phil what is going on. Also, examine the room and see if you can find something interesting. Maybe an escape route or something that tells you where you are or what's going on.
>>464349
>>464349
>>463457
Phil lights up as soon as he notices you, "Ah, Casper. Good, now that just leaves Troy and Mark."
You begin to approach Phil, fully intending to unleash all of today's frustration in the form of a fist into his bespectacled face.
"Cass, chill!" Mary shouts, grabbing your arm.
Your blind rage subsides a little, but Phil is still a fucking dick head.
You sigh, "God, This day can't get any worse."
"Calm down little man, we're in this together," A voice calls out from the end of the room. Her name is Brooke, and she's a manager who usually works mornings; Another person you could do without right now.
Despite your anger at her calling you 'little man', you decide to let it go, "Yeah, whatever. They're probably gonna kill us anyway, so at least this won't last long."
"And why would they do that?" An older lady asks.
The older lady is Adriana, she wears her dark brown hair secured in a loose bun with flecks of gray hairs springing to and fro; She's the only one you don't absolutely hate.
Your tone becomes more serious, "Because this whole thing is a cover-up for these weird alien things. Mary an I saw em', they're fucked up. This lady with a scar told us there's some queen that's fucking with some of our heads, and making us do shit."
Phil folds his arms, "Aliens? Really?"
You glare at him, "Yeah. Really."
"They can't just kill us though, right?" Adriana asks, worried.
"... They actually might. That, or they'll keep us here forever," Mary states.
"Gah, fuck this!" You shout, set on getting out of here.
>>464452
You look around the room for anything that might help you get out of here. The place is about as inoffensive as a hospital waiting room, the only jarring image being the oppressive automatic metal door locking you in. Every aspect of the room seems to have been calculated and strategically placed to feel 'natural', right down to the most generic selection of art adorning the walls. This was obviously a jail cell trying not to look like a jail cell; That, or you were all brought to a rather pricey hotel.
Everyone in the room silently watches you struggle, trying to lift one of the paintings off of the wall, Phil speaks up, "...Everything's bolted down."
"Thanks, *Phil*," you scoff.
The metal door slides open, and Frankenstein enters the room. The door closes and she stands completely still, not acknowledging any of you.
A few awkward seconds pass before you get tired of it, "What the hell are yo --"
She looks up, and around the room, then begins to speak "You all need to listen to me, in a few minutes something is going to happen. You're going to see something horrible, doing horrible things to people, but you need to keep going. That thing is your distraction, and I will be helping you escape this hell hole."
She extends her right hand, revealing the hoods you were brought in wearing. "As soon as I finish talking, don't acknowledge anything that I've just told you, and put these hoods on."
>>464453
Take the hoods and go with it. Ask her to join because she seems like a nice lady and knows what's going on.
Thanks for coming back, OP. Missed u.
>>464453
Take the hoods reluctantly, you're still pissed as all hell but you know an escape plan when you see one... because your a hardened survivalist and not just cause you watched a bunch of spy movies.
>>464453
OP COME BACK I NEED THIS STORY IN MY LIFE.
Frankenstein puts the hoods on all of you as you reluctantly agree given no other option. You're led back outside, and once again the world around you sounds like gibberish. Every step feels like a death march, as you fruitlessly try to fathom the horrors that await your eyes as soon as the hood is removed.
You enter a room, and are brought to a stop. The voices die out, and then you hear only one amidst the silence.
>"Ædo eño aker dien."
More gibberish, but this time it seems to be addressed towards your direction. You work the hood part way off of your head to try and hear what's going on.
"So, any one of em' her?" The voice of an english man from the other end of the room calls out
"Doesn't matter now. Where's my monster?" Frankenstein asks, impatiently
The man pauses, "*Doesn't matter*? that's the whole point, right? so --"
"The whole point is getting out of here *alive*, I was promised an accident, and that *didn't* happen," Frankenstein reprimands the man, annoyance in her voice.
"Okay, okay," He backs off, "Look. I - uh - I thought it'd be easy, but they're already onto me. Best I could do was the cameras for a few minutes."
"So, what does that mean for us?" Frankenstein asks.
The man sighs, "That means as we speak some poor asshole's workstation is being tossed. Won't take them long to figure out he's a proxy, and then they'll come knocking."
There is a brief pause, and then in a hushed, angered tone, Frankenstein speaks, "You *said* you could do this."
The mystery man clears his throat, unsettled by her, "Yeah, I say a lot of shit, i-it's statistically impossible for all of it to turn out true."
"I *do* have a plan B though, don't worry," The man places a large metal object upon a metal surface; you hear the deep impact of the metal and can imagine the heft of the thing.
>>465332
You hear the man unfurl a piece of paper.
a few moments of silence pass, then Frankenstein speaks with a worried tone, "This... Goes through containment cells."
You hear metal scrape against metal, the mysterious man speaks, "Yeah, hence the maintenance key."
"... What about my back up?" Frankenstein asks.
"They'll be causing the distractions now, personally. They'll probably die, but they still didn't even question the plan at all. What the fuck did she do to you guys?"
Frankenstein's voice becomes more course, "Promised us freedom. Treated us like people."
The man carries a skeptical tone, "You sure? A lot of crazy shit out there, she could have --"
"Don't. 2743 was the only one they used. Ever."
The man sighs once more, "Just -- don't die."
"I *have* to get my life back, I'm ready to do whatever it takes," Frankenstein affirms.
"Yeah, I know." The man trails off.
"Well, It's almost showtime," Once again you hear the shuffling of papers as the man places them onto a surface.
"Here's the files for the things you're going to get acquainted with, so you can prepare."
"Now, take your handgun out and point it at me."
The air between the two grows thick.
A few long seconds pass, and you hear the sound of a gun being unholstered.
The man begins to chuckle, "Some sick kind of deja vu, huh. Only - you know. Reversed."
"Hey... How'd you end up here? You never told me."
Frankenstein's voice begins to quiver, "Robbery gone wrong, they *executed* me. Brought me in."
The man snaps his fingers, "Hey," He calls out in your direction.
Once again, you return to the world of darkness and incomprehensible speech as your hood is violently pulled back down. A loud crash, a few terse words are exchanged, an excuse, acceptance, and a frustrated man being carted away; Then, silence.
>>465333
Your hoods are then removed completely. You're in some kind of interrogation room -- the kind with the two way mirror. A table in the center of the room holds a mess of papers, along with a large metal tool somewhere in the family of a tire iron with a strange shape at the end.
Frankenstein is wearing a vest again, she silently returns to pilfering a locker in the back corner of the room.
She clears her throat, regaining her composure, "The first room we'll be going through will be simple. Run, this thing can only hurt us physically, so just don't get in its way. It won't take them long to catch on, so we're probably going to end up shooting our way out."
She begins handing you guns to disperse amongst the group.
"What thing?" Phil asks, worried.
"Don't worry about it, just do what I tell you to do. Okay?"
Brooke holds the gun like a piece of dirty laundry, "Seriously? I-I can't use a gun."
Meanwhile, Adriana seems quite familiar with holding a firearm much to your surprise; She was always a softer, mom-type in your eyes.
"You don't put your finger on that trigger unless it's pointed towards the bad guys, and then you shoot it at them. That's all I need you to do."
You snort, "Yeah - great. That's *all*."
"So who's the girl you're looking for?" You ask.
"You don't need to know that, kid," Frankenstein finishes gearing herself up and turns to face the group, "She knows who she is, and I'm sure she'd prefer to not be known."
You narrow your brow, "But the rest of us are just meat shields, right?"
She shakes her head, "I'll try to get *all* of you out of here. If you want me to be honest, it's because I don't know which one of you *is* her."
"I'm probably the best shot you all have at this, otherwise you'll probably be here forever. If you have any more questions, you have about fifteen seconds to ask them, and then no more talking."
Remember the conversation and store it away for now. Focus on getting out and recall that you have a joint in your back pocket for after you escape.
bump for more
>>466283
"Nothing? Good. Hide your guns, follow me, and keep moving," Frankenstein peaks out into the hall, all of a sudden alarms begin to ring out across the facility.
She waits a few moments, and then signals for the rest of you to follow as she makes her way out. The six of you nervously make your way down the wide hallways of the strange facility. As you walk, you're passed by various doctor types, all with somewhere to be. You focus on looking forward, trying not to stare too long at anyone lest they become interested in who you are, and why you don't have your disorienting hoods on.
Frankenstein ducks into a small door and down a significantly more narrow hall which leads to a less luxurious area filled with all sorts of tools. She asks Adriana to shoot anything that walks in after you, and then she starts turning away at some strangely shaped bolts with the large tool given to her. The whole thing takes her about five minutes. The process leaves her breathless, she tosses the tool aside, and heaves the hatch in the floor open.
"What's in there?" Phil asks, intrigued.
"Maintenance panel -- the cell next to us," she replies, catching her breath.
"Yeah, but... these tubes?" He asks, leaning in closer to the hole.
"I don't know -- stuff that powers the cell."
Phil gives her a weary look, the guy always asks too many questions but still doesn't get a clue. Not like you -- you know exactly what's going on here. Aliens. Many drug induced forays into the annals of day-time television have brought up memories of cheesy shows detailing how aliens were behind the Kennedy assassination. Some of them even say Kennedy was an alien himself, a high ranking member of a different race of alien that was at war with the assassin's race, and their battlefield was earth.
"Wait here for a bit, I'll be right out." She craws into the veins of the facility, while you stew on different alien theories, trying to link them to the current events.
>>466323
A loud mechanical scraping sound interrupts your thoughts; The sound is followed by the screams of various people, and loud thuds across the nearby walls. Frankenstein emerges from the hatch, and slowly closes it behind her.
Mary backs away from the noises, and draws closer to Frankenstein, "W-What did you..."
"I let it loose, It's the only way we'll be able to get in there," Frankenstein's face is cold as she stares off into the distance, faint screams crawling through the walls of the maintenance room.
You raise your brows "You mean we're going out there with ... whatever the fuck that is?"
"The cells can move to different levels; Different areas of the facility. We're going to ride various cell up a few levels so when they catch on we'll have a better chance of moving up without walking into a firing squad."
A loud inhuman growl shatters the chorus of screams. The sound is incomparable to any of the animals you've heard, and instantly produces a deep feeling of dread within you.
"We can't just wait it out. We have to move," Frankenstein begins to move while the rest of you are paralyzed with fear.
"We'll be fine, just don't do anything to call its attention, okay?"
Suddenly you begin to feel dizzy, all this *excitement* is making you feel like you're going to pass out. You close your eyes, and when you open them, you're inside of the cell with a grotesque bleeding appendage wriggling about on the floor -- no doubt severed by the door which sports its own spattering of blood. In the back corner of the room Frankenstein pops off another panel, and begins rewiring things as she frequently glances back and forth between the wires and a sheet of paper with diagrams.
>>466324
"Casper," Mary calls out, from her tone you can tell this isn't the first time.
"What happened?"
"What? You didn't just see that thing? What the hell were you looking at?"
"I - uh - I don't know. Just -- It's whatever."
Phil sits staring at one of the walls, breathing heavily, shivering as he tries to clean the blood off of his glasses -- fucking Phil.
"You... weren't kidding, this is fucked up," Brooke comments, her jacket now missing.
Adriana nods in agreement, mostly trapped in her thoughts about what she'd just seen.
The Cell begins to move, with that Frankenstein puts her paper away - and turns towards the group.
"We have to do this at least two more times... If we're lucky," She states.
The morale of the group, broken and battered, descends to a new low as the cell ascends. Luckily you'd missed whatever had broken them, almost as if your brain decided to go on auto pilot to save you from the horrors you'd have witnessed. Cool. You don't need that shit anyway.
Still, blacking out like that sober gives you a terrible feeling. You debate whether or not to get into it with the rest of the group.
hey this is still up
>>466325
Talk about it. They're kinda pulling your weight right now.
>>466325
Mentally prepare for the long haul. Examine the guns, see what we're working with.
B U M P
>>468519
>>470807
You decide to tell the group about what happened. Everyone looks at you inquisitively.
Phil looks down, deep in thought, "Maybe you just blocked what happened out of your memory?"
He looks up at you, worried "It happens sometimes. People experience something that scares them so much their mind just --"
"Fuck you Phil, I'm not scared," You proclaim, your voice trembling with the bravery of the tiniest mouse.
"Fear is a good thing, Casper," Frankenstein remarks, "if this happens again, let me know."
Frankenstein's glare lingers on you for a few seconds longer, then she turns her attention towards the door of the containment cell.
Great, now you feel like the weakest of the group, and this bothers you way more than it probably should.
Mary approaches you with an empathetic look on her face, "You good?" She places her hand on your shoulder.
You quickly brush her hand off, and instantly get defensive "Yeah, I'm fine. Whatever."
You examine your handgun – you aren't quite sure as to what type of gun this is, but you're fairly certain you've seen it before in some shooter game. Come to think of it, you all have relatively smaller guns than Frankenstien, she probably just saved the best for her and is just using you guys as meat shields.
What a bitch.
>>472022
"We're almost there. Get ready," Frankenstien announces, bringing herself lower to the ground.
The door begins to open like a curtain as the sound of the rather annoying alarm permiates throughout the room.
In an instant, your blood turns to ice as you catch a glimpse of what you can only assume is a grenade make its way from under the door; blindness hits you, you're lost in an abyss and find yourself drawn to the ground to make sure you're still standing on it. You think you hear gunfire, you hope none of it hits you as you blink rapidly trying to retain your vision. A minute of confusion passes as you regain your sense of place. Outside of the elevator you spot five armed men on the ground writhing in pain.
"Get out there and grab their weapons," she calls out, as she stumbles while approaching the man in the center, who is now grasping for his holstered handgun.
"Now!" She yells, snapping the rest of the group out of their trance.
Frankenstein snatches the man's handgun before he has a chance to use it.
The man winces in pain as blood pools from underneith him, he violently grips his left thigh while Frankenstein searches the man's body.
Finding what seems to be some sort of ID, Frankenstein stands up, glances down the hall and motions for the rest of you to follow.
Still rearing from the effects of that grenade, you make several yawning motions in an attempt to bring your hearing back to an optimal state. "Fuck all of this. This sucks," You think to yourself as you follow Frankenstein.
You notice out of the corner of your eye that the men who ambushed you were carrying larger, much cooler looking rifles than your crappy pistol.
