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Post by Alexandra Bishop on May 22, 2016 12:51:07 GMT
Who is still alive? What does your character feel towards them?
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JoshSmaltz
Supervising Cohort
Supervising Cohort
Hail! and well met
Posts: 20
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Post by JoshSmaltz on May 29, 2016 3:49:07 GMT
Part 3
“Going up are we ?”
The voice cutting into the conversation skulked into view a few paces away from Heather, whose surprise was apparent in a quick turn and small step back. It had been so long since she had seen Daniel she began to assume he had died like everyone else. Washington was indifferent to the approach of the old man, unaware of the threat that his afflicted mind may pose to his mother or the soldier.
Daniel: I’m not sure I share your enthusiasm Heather. What are you expecting to find?
Heather (annoyed): Hopefully some better company…
Daniel: Well, from what I remember seeing, you may be a bit lonely up there.
Heather: From what you’ve seen? As if we could trust your sight, or your smell, or your thinking! You! A ghost lurking in the shadows and spooking women from behind!
A pale smile flashed across Daniels face. He stood in the light of the room just beyond the door, his shadow looming largely against the wall opposite Alex’s doorway. Tattered clothing shelled in his frail form, and yet his slouch was apparent. Having escaped into SLF at the last moment, a sense of desperation seemed to follow him for the entirety of his underground existence.
Daniel: I have seen outside. It was much darker than I expected. Still snowing a bit….
Alex: We appreciate you stopping by Dan, but as you can see, we are in the middle of something right now. If we could help you with anything and get you on your way, I’m happy to do my part to help.
Heather (menacingly): I have a good idea of how I could help….
Washington: Mom, who is this guy?
Daniel sauntered closer to the door to peer in at the young man. Moving around the dimly lit complex it was easy to see and hear many things without being able to identify the source.
Daniel: Well that depends a great deal on who you ask these days. There are fewer rumors these days it seems.
Heather: Washy this man (pointing at Daniel accusingly) is a bad man. The only reason he is down here is because he refused to perish with everyone else. Too good for that sort of thing, eh Danny? Millions lost. Doctors, Teachers, women and children, and yet he managed to slither his way to safety. What was it again Daniel? What was it you did before the “First”?
The old man visibly saddened, and stepped back away from the door. Alex, having grown weary of the conversation, got up from her chair to move closer to her son. He was too young to have heard all the rumors, and although she did not believe most of them she was still compelled to place herself in between her son and the mad man.
Washington: He doesn’t seem so bad to me.
Heather cackles at the child’s ignorance and steps to confront Daniel.
Heather: He (pointing to Washington) might not know Daniel, but I do. I bet you do to Alex? Would you like me to get rid of this filth?
Alex: I don’t think there’s any need for that. If we are the only ones left there’s no reason we can’t be polite. We are leaving, Daniel. Heather and Washington were here trying to convince me when you showed up. (Turning to Washington) I admit I’m still not sure what is best for you, but (looking back at Daniel) I don’t think anything good will come of staying down here longer. (Looks back at Heather) Look at him. Do you think he is going to give us much trouble?
Daniel: No no no. No trouble from me. In fact, when I heard what you all were talking about, I figured it was only fair to come offer my services to you. I have been to the surface. If you want help getting there, I could save you the trouble I had, at the very least.
Heather: Listen! Don’t think for a second that I don’t know who you are and what you have done. Doomsday Daniel. Daniel the Deliverer. How did it feel killing Alfred? Did you think killing the man that sold the world would make up for your part in its destruction?
Alex could sense Washington’s increasing anxiety. The boy was getting fidgety, visibly uncomfortable with the turn of events unfolding. She moves across the room to put a comforting hand on her sons shoulder. She had that one of the men responsible for the dropping of the “First” had made his way into SLF, and though she was never entirely sure she believed it, after the they were locked underground it never seemed to matter. Life before the bomb meant very little now, and placing the blame would only help the dead feel better.
Alex: Heather, are you sure Daniel can’t be of use? If he has been up and seen outside, it may save us some trouble having him around. When was the last time you went up that far within SLF? You are so desperate to get out but, do you even know how?
Heather: I may not know how to get out but I would rather perish from trying then from this fucker.
Washington: You told me you knew where to go?
Heather (covering up) : Up is the only way to go! There is nothing left down here! I can’t believe we are still talking about this. This piece-of-shit is slowing us down already.
Heather steps towards Daniel shoves him back away from the door.
Heather: Do you hear the screams at night? Can you even sleep anymore, or as soon as you close your eyes do the nightmares set in? I’ll never understand how you’ve made it this far.
Alex: Enough already! Heather, don’t be an ass just because he snuck up on you.
Heather: You’re seriously considering it then? Letting that man around your son?
Daniel began to cough. The fit took hold for a few minutes, and forced him to double over in front of the small audience as if accepting applause for the display. His physical limitations were obvious, and though it was easy to question the sharpness of his mind, it was quite clear that his body would hold out only so much longer before failing him completely.
Alex: If I didn’t think we were all better off together, I would never have answered the door. Daniel I can’t honestly say that I know who you are but (looking at Heather) I can’t say the same of you either. My son is the only person I have seen and he’s the only one of you I really trust. Washington, you came to me asking if I would join you in finding a better life. You seem to think that Heather can help us, do you think Daniel could?
Having been ignored by the adults during the initial exchange, the young man was startled when his mother called out his voice. He had been busy looking over Daniel, trying to get a sense of him. He knew that his mother was willing to leave the Secured Living Facility with him because he was her son. Were he an orphan, he wasn’t sure that the engineer would be so willing to help attempt to find a life worth living above-ground. Sgt. O ‘Neil obviously wanted to get out, but, Washington felt sure that she was not willing to invest herself into the escape without being sure it was what was best for her. But what of Daniel?
Washington (Cautiously he looks to Daniel): Well…Sir… why come with us if you have already seen what there is to see and come back? You had the chance to leave? Why now?
Daniel (with a polite hesitation): It was as dark as night. The winds howled. I know that I am sick. I was ill-equipped. I came back down and knew that the next time I would be ready. I am leaving. I shall not return this time or ever again. (coughs) If you let me join you, I promise you will escape SLF. After we are out, I wouldn’t ask anything more of you. It will take hours and we will need to bring as much as we can. The sooner we start, the better.
Heather can barely contain her frustration, and is wringing her hands. Alex is still looking at her son, all having heard the old man’s appeal. Washington (firmly but without confidence) I don’t mind if he comes.
Alex: There’s no sense in wasting any more time then.
Heather scowls in defeat but is unwilling to push the subject. If Washington were to decide she was too combative, he and Alex may yet leave without her. Daniel had surprised her, but now that she felt more in control of her senses, she sickened at having been so openly emotional in front of the others. What was there to fear of a paranoid asthmatic? She killed many better women and men than he. Maybe, she reasoned with herself as she turned to walk away down the hall, the rumors weren’t true.
Heather (coolly): I won’t need more than a few hours to get ready. I’ve already packed all the guns and ammo. Don’t forget to bring toilet paper.
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