[ a hum leaves his throat at wendy's last sentence. does that mean — ]
— you've seen places rooted from your memories? [ whatever horrors she's dealt with, physically and psychologically, he assumes. ] Unfortunate. I thought someone of your position would be immune to your lord's powers and whatnot, being able to navigate through all the fog and all.
Well - no. Not exactly. [She shakes her head a little. No fake Facility. The realms are their own respective things. She doesn’t know anyone else here from her old life. No one’s shown up as far as she can tell. She’s utterly alone - in a more literal sense than ever before.]
The irony of my new career path isn’t lost on me. I bet she thinks she’s being real funny. [Putting her in such a position that would atrophy her brain into absolute uselessness the more time goes on.]
[ "she" — the entity, he remembers her telling before. an eldritch creature that sweeps him away in the first place. so wendy's a prisoner of this world as well... he should have suspected it, really. who would be willing to work for her after all? aside from cults, yet she doesn't seem to be the type unless he's wrong about what he knows of her. ]
Oh, yes. Though it has its own blood games after all, I'd imagine it enjoy variety unless it's truly an animal in mind and heart.
[ it's smart to force survivors to do this and that in trials though, isn't it?
at this point they're in the main lobby, heading to the opposite end of the hall. ]
Better your line of work over joining the unlucky ones, yes?
[It’s different this time. She has no free will, no say in whether or not she participates in worship. Last time - back home - that was a conscientious decision on her part. It made sense. The cause was important to her.
Here… forget it. It’s just a prison.]
I’m grateful it’s not me. [A slight nod.] I’ve seen so many of these trials at this point you’d think it wouldn’t get to me. It’s rare, but - sometimes they do.
[ he does, however, give wendy's hand another squeeze as they begin their walk. to imagine wendy on one of those disgusting rusty hooks until she's taken... he forces his imagination to stop least it gets worse and he doesn't want it to get worse. it's the reason why he doesn't let go of her hand until hearing a familiar groan when they enter the next room.
letting go of her hand, he makes a hand gesture as if to say stay here. the room they enter has a statue, a few paintings, a stepping ladder, a closed door, and a heavy looking console table blocking an open doorway with curtains. it's not long until another zombie makes itself known, trying to climb over the table. it's quick and easy to deal with the problem when all august has to do is slam its skull against the table until it's nothing but blood and flesh and bone.
he shakes the blood off his glove, unable to notice what looks like a rolled up piece of paper hanging in the jar the state holds. ]
[No matter how many times Wendy reviews files and histories with a fine-toothed comb, she reaches the same conclusion in the end: no one deserves that torture. Not a single person. On the survivor side of things at least. Her sympathy for killers runs much too thin nowadays.
Wendy has no dossier on August, only knows the barest of minimums about the man, but as far as she’s concerned - he wouldn’t deserve to be stuck in the endless cycle of cat-and-mouse torture games either. Not after all the selfless kindness he’s shown towards her in the short time they’ve known each other.
She doesn’t even notice he was still holding her hand until it’s gone. Its absence is palatable. Worry on her face, she looks to him and nods in understanding. Her fingers flex, and she’s wringing her hands out of nerves as she stays behind.
She does take a step or two. They’re just hesitant ones. She wants to listen but doesn’t want to leave him alone. As long as he’s in her sight…
Her attention goes towards the layout of the room, the items inside with them. Up until he’s disposing of another zombie - this time with his hands instead of firearms. She doesn’t want to look - not at first - and simply turns her head, choosing to stare at the nearby statue, the paintings on the walls, back to the statue. The sounds are bad enough on their own. She does sneak a glance before the thing drops to the floor, brain utterly destroyed. And she makes a face, borderline disgusted.
Going to be obedient and stay put until told otherwise, still surveying their surroundings with occasional glances around.]
[ curling his fingers together, august shoves the dead body onto the ground and then immediately flexes them out in attempt to flick off blood and bits of flesh. disgusting. he's never handed rotting meat and initially didn't have plans to, but there are creatures in the way. literally smashing a person's head on a wooden table most likely doesn't qualify as "quiet" but it's is by comparison to guns, right?
he pushes the table to the side and walks over the body. another room... now that there's no problem he heads in first just in case there's trouble. fortunately there's nothing inside, and all he finds is another dagger that he grabs hold. now, because he's deep inside the room, august doesn't hear the rise of the deceased returning back onto its feed with its flesh scarred and bleeding, its nails long and sharpened — one of the fastest after its second death. if only he knew that these particular brand of zombies have a third chance at life, where it's faster and hungrier and has its lack of sights on wendy.
it runs right at her, hands forward and claws sharp in attempt to swipe. steam escapes through its orifices as it releases out monstrous growls with its sharp teeth revealed, some smashed thanks to august's work. it's not enough to deter its single thought of consumption. ]
[It’s down, it’s fine. August leaves this room for the next and Wendy wanders a bit closer to the way he exited, still keeping an eye on the crumpled remains on the floor despite everything. Not wanting to get too close. He’ll be right back. He’s just a few feet away.
She turns her attention to the statue she’d been eyeballing before and -]
Hey August? [Wendy raises her voice, calling to him in the next room over. She approaches with careful steps.] I think I found something… [A big piece of paper, all rolled up and sticking out from a jar She grabs for it, gingerly removes it. Y’know - because places like this… they tend to have traps. Or whatever. In the movies, anyway. Why not extend the logic here?
She looks away from the open doorway entirely for the moment, busying herself with starting to unroll the - is this a map? Floor plan? Blueprints? She squints at the page, tilting it a few directions as more of the design is revealed to her.
And that’s when she realizes her mistake. Their mistake. The thing that was left for dead on the floor - it’s not on the floor anymore. The pool of blood is still there and it’s trailed through it, fresh footprints making a bee-line straight for her.]
AUGUST!!
[She screams and there’s a smashing noise as Wendy uses all her strength she didn’t know she had to push the statue down to the floor - anything to delay the second-time-reanimated corpse from reaching her. The statue is huge, much bigger than her - and heavier. She struggles with her first few attempts, gets frustrated and curses under her breath, but ultimately succeeds in tipping it over.
Why did it get back up? How did it get back up? Remove the head or destroy the brain and that’s it. No more zombie. That’s how it usually works, right? That’s how it’s always been. Unless - man-made. What she entertained before. Something involving a virus. That probably did this to this poor person.
Wendy’s head whips around, eyes desperately scanning for anything that could be used as a weapon as she backs away from danger. Key in pocket - that’s nothing. Map or blueprint currently crumpled in her stressed out, iron-clad grip - also nothing (but potentially something in terms of helping their escape… if… that… happens at this point in time). The table’s way over there - useless. Statue already smashed. She’s going to feel sore after that muscle strain.
Does she start running? She’s gonna start running. And try not to cry. This is bad.]
Edited (we love the edits baybee) 2023-07-31 17:34 (UTC)
the reason august isolates himself for twenty years is the guilt that plagues him up to this day. the guilt that reminds him each and everyday that it's his fault that kit siang is dead, yet also the same one that pushes him back onto his feet so that nathaniel doesn't become anything like he is: a person whose career brings him to ruin.
it's also the reason why panic — familiar, that feeling — sets in as he races back into the gallery room by the time wendy screams. august's heart races as he sees the culprit: a headless zombie. how the blood hell is that thing still alive? didn't he finish it like the rest? what mistake did he make again? leaving wendy alone... perhaps that's the mistake. just like leaving his brother-in-law alone because august is selfish.
the adrenaline and panic take over and combine themselves into pure aggression; august gets in between wendy and the zombie with a swift kick following towards his chest, which is strong enough to slam it against the wall. from there he pulls out the two daggers he collects during their journey and throws it towards its shoulders, pinning the creature against the wall. as it screams, august deflects sharp claws with his smg before shooting it.
forget not using guns when people under his protection are in trouble. again. the clip empties once, he reloads, and shoots the monster down until it's nothing left but meat and blood. by the time the second clip ends, all he can do is breathe in and out so harshly until he can try and relax himself.
it fails by the time he returns the weapon to its holster, and he's only halfway there by the time he looks back towards wendy with both hands on her shoulders. ]
[It lunges at Wendy and she nearly dodges the attack - but it grabs at the back of her borrowed coat with inhumanly strong grip. She yelps as she’s pulled back, her feet slipping beneath her. She tries throwing her weight all around to break herself loose. All the movement, all the struggling. She even considers trying to slip the coat off her arms and run, but the monster is too strong and her efforts are ultimately wasted. Growling with frustration, she tries even harder than before. There’s a tearing sound and -
Wendy hits the floor, the map dropping from her grip and bouncing a few times on the marble before rolling away. There’s a sob of relief from her as she pushes up from the floor with her arms, rushing to pick herself up and go. But she ends up crawling instead. Her leg drags behind her, and it hurts to try and put pressure on her foot to stand. It doesn’t feel like a break - that much she can assume - but her ankle isn’t in good shape. She’s hissing between her teeth with discomfort, exasperated, chest heaving, utterly panicked. Not wanting to give up on her escape the slightest bit.
The creature is quick, but August is quicker. Wendy exhales the breath she didn’t know she was holding hostage once she sees him charge between her and the monster from over her shoulder. Visibly relaxes, but only for the briefest moment before she topples over and curls into a ball on her side. Arms over her head to hide her face, his torn coat much too big on her frame.
It’s scary. She’s scared. But he’s got it, right? He does things like this all the time. He’s a fighter. Removed from the action - that’s where she belongs. Getting too close, being stuck in the middle - it triggers something in her she can’t even begin to handle. A code black that wasn’t supposed to happen. Everything she knew gone in less than ten minutes. Trials are different because it’s a guarantee that nothing will go wrong for her. Everything else is a gamble. Why did she think she could get away with being so careless? They shouldn’t be here.
Her hands shift to cover her ears at the sounds of the zombie’s horrible screams and rapid fire, fingers trembling and catching in her hair. She doesn’t dare look up, even after the commotion is quieted. Focuses on her breathing instead, trying to lower her heart rate. Her chest feels tight, like the organ is bound to burst through at any moment. She stays like this until she hears him speak.]
I’m f-fine. [Wendy shakes her head - no, it didn’t hurt her. She just wiped out, tripping over her own feet. Ankle is probably sprained. Does she bother mentioning it? She doesn’t want to be a burden…
When she sits up, it’s slow and careful. Her eyes are red, some tear stains on her cheeks. But she throws her arms around his shoulders and practically pulls him down to the floor. No words, just the strongest hug she can muster.]
[ it's awkward, the way that he ends up stumbling down onto the floor and flat on his rear. it doesn't stop august's immediate worry upon hearing the sound of her voice — the way her face looks that brings a certain uneasiness in his chest. the worry about her death is gone, only to be replaced with the worry about her well being. he's witnessed tears of fury in the field of battle when he was a young lad in the thunderdome, and tears of sadness in his own estate.
all it takes is one look and he can see the fear and anxiety written not just on her face, but everywhere. the way the tears flow down her cheeks, and her hold on him that's practically a vice grip. it's instinct that kicks in when he immediately wraps his arms around her small frame. it's instinct that makes him raise a hand and rest on the back of her head, stroking it with a certain amount of tenderness. it's also instinct that has him whisper: ]
I'm here. There's nothing to fear anymore so long as I'm around.
[ august lets wendy bring everything out so long as they're on the floor without trouble. however long she needs, he stays right beside her. ]
[Wendy grips onto him so tightly once she’s brought him down with her on the floor. No eye contact, just her face buried straight into his chest. Instantly soothed by his presence, his arms around her, his hand in her hair. So safe.
There’s a soft sniffle from her, then the slowest, shakiest exhale. She gives a few little nods at his words.]
Th-Thanks. [That was rather quiet, so she tries again. Another sniffle, then a clear of her throat.] Thank you. I’m sorry, I just - freaked out. A little. [A soft huff. Her fingers flex. She’s clinging to him now, taking the time to simply rest in his embrace. Much calmer.]
[ august acknowledges her explanation with a soft hum of his voice. being scared is an understandable feeling when someone is defenseless and untrained against such vicious creatures. neither is he but at least he knows the art of violence. wendy works with science by comparison. she shouldn't be touched in the first place, safer in the office or laboratory while he survives in a variety of chances and places. wendy lin should be safe.
until she's able to return, he will guard her; the hand on the back of wendy's head runs down gently several times. he's held sok leng before when she cries and he knows what it's like to cry on someone's shoulder — even though the end result is being alone due to his mistake. still, all he can focus on is her. all he can do to help is to stay with her. therefore he holds her close and tight, stretching one leg so that they can be more comfortable if they're stuck on the floor for a while. ]
I noticed. [ he says as he leans his cheek on the top of her head. ] I assume you've never had to deal with them before. My apologies for picking a terrible place for our talk, dear.
Not your fault. [Feeling the gentle weight of him is also comforting. Her eyes glance upward, but she doesn’t move otherwise.] You never know where you’ll end up here sometimes.
[All that’s available to her in this position is his neck, so she presses a soft kiss to his skin there. Her grip on him a bit looser, more relaxed than before. She stays put, resting in his warm embrace until her heart rate’s come back down to baseline and she doesn’t feel like hiding beneath a rock somewhere. It takes a bit.
Wendy’s better now. But even if she isn’t, she wants to make him believe she is. Her arms give August a squeeze of a hug before she slowly, carefully pulls away from him. She wipes at her eyes and face with her hand, but the tears end up soaking into his coat sleeve more. It’s oversized on her, the sleeve getting in the way.]
I uh - don’t have much experience, no. Sometimes I’d visit Zoo, but observing specimens in enclosures hardly counts.
[ the kiss is what raises august's brows up high. a surprise — a sweet gesture. he doesn't mind it considering how close they've already been by physical means, and how they've exchanged affectionate expressions between one another now and then. it's the reason why he doesn't say no, why he lets her do what she wants.
"Zoo" is familiar. another section of her workplace, like how she's part of the chemical department. the place where the monsters are handled. ]
Well, you already know I've never had to deal with such creatures before. [ he thinks about the kiss again. how terrified she is. it's the reason why he reaches out for her face and runs his fingers against it, wiping away her tears. ] All we have to do is adapt long enough for an escape.
I was wrong once. [About the zombies. Who knew they could just get back up like that? Unheard of. And she’s never wrong, so…]
Right - yeah. [The slightest nod. Seems like she’s distracted.] Just have to be more careful I guess.
[She isn’t thinking about the kiss. It was impulsive. Slight. Felt right in the moment. They are rather close. But his hand on her cheek - yeah, that does it for her. There’s a soft sniffle, traces of a smile. And she automatically decides to ruin it. Typical Wendy.]
…Is this a bad time to tell you I think I busted my ankle? [And that smile turns into a more… embarrassed expression. Her head nods towards her leg, the one that’s stretched out beneath her. Have an annoyed sigh.]
[ her ankle, ruined? august ends up narrowing his brows before his eyes move towards where she motions to. that's not good for them when they're supposed to be escaping. already he makes a hand motion as if to say hold on before he gets on his feet. instantly he grabs the two knives and gives them a spin between his fingers, spraying blood towards the wall until they shine clean. august makes sure to wipe them against the clean part of his pants — damp with rain water, but better than nothing — before squatting down.
he takes part of the tail of his own coat and cuts off a long, thin piece until he's satisfied. once that's over, the knives are on the ground and he moves towards her ankle. wrapping it with the cut cloth — the coat is worth so much — he makes sure it's tight yet not too painful for wendy. make sure that it's one way to keep the swelling down.
once that's over however, august once more pockets the knives before scooping wendy into his arms as he stands up one more time. ]
I'll carry you until we're in a better room then. [ he says before walking towards the closed door like a husband carrying his wife through the threshold. ] Ready?
[ leaning forward slightly, he opens the door that leads to an L shaped hallway. thunder and lightning accompany the pouring rain as well as the sound of dogs barking from the outside. ]
[Wendy’s not going anywhere, not bothering to try picking herself up and putting weight on it. It hurt enough before. She just nods and stays put, frowning to herself, feeling like a disappointment. This isn’t either of their faults, but she can’t help feeling just the slightest bit guilty about it. They needed to talk about something important, and now they’re stuck here, desperately trying to find their way out before they’re zombie food.
She looks around while August busies himself, worried they might not be alone. Anything is possible here. She spots the rolled up parchment and stretches out on her side, reaching across the floor with grabby fingers to snatch it up without moving much. It didn’t go far from where she dropped it. When she slinks back to sit more comfortably, she lets out the softest hiss from the initial discomfort of the wrap. It needs to be tight, she gets that. But she was distracted.]
Thank you. Just gimme a minute and— [Squeak!] You don’t have to - do that… [Grumble grumble. Too late. He’s already picked her up, and she forces herself to relax in his arms. No use causing a fuss.]
I’m fine. Map. [She nudges it at his shoulder, trying not to laugh. Smiling a little just because.] Blueprints? Might be something like that.
[He’s preoccupied at the moment, since he decided he wanted to be extra, but at least he knows they need to take a look at it.
Is the rain ever going to stop? From the sound of it, the weather has only gotten worse outside once they enter the nearest hall.]
[ wendy's smile is here. much better. something becomes lighter on his shoulders and he isn't sure why despite walking through the hall. so long as she's better now — physically and mentally, with how he wraps up her ankle and makes her smile — then everything should be easier from here on out. aside from the enemies, of course. not a problem so long as he's around to make sure they stay dead unlike the one in the gallery. ]
Now where did you find that? [ he asks while trying to look for said map at her form. will she bring it out for him to look at. ] And are we heading in the right direction?
[ before august is able to add more questions however, his steps freeze upon hearing glass crack at the same time as thunder roars. it's a moment later that he walks once more, and at a brisk pace. it's no time for more trouble when she's hurt. they need a break room of sorts, or at least somewhere warm again that isn't the dining area. too much blood and the likes. ]
Statue. Before I knocked it over. [Wendy seems rather pleased with herself about that. A small thing like her manifesting that amount of strength? Super proud.
Hold on, she’s attempting to unroll the map without smacking them with it.]
Let’s see… [Is it upside down? Yeah. One second. She turns it over, then starts scrutinizing. He can take a peek if he wants - she’s holding it out far enough for the both of them to look at while they walk.]
Where are we right now…
[The sound of glass catches her attention too and she perks up, glancing around and looking worried. The map is hurriedly folded over. The uptick in his pace does not go unnoticed.]
Just - try anything. We can always lock the door or barricade it or something. Then figure out where we are with this.
[ he lets out an understanding hum while nodding his head. smartest way to go about the place, really, especially when he takes a glance at the map himself. so many rooms to visit, but which ones are available to lock and aren't infested with zombies? they'll find out and he'll return them to death a second time. permanently, unlike the mistake from the gallery. what caused it to rise up again... he destroyed the brain didn't he?
by the time they leave the L-shaped hallway, closing the door behind them, the muffled sounds of glass breaking and dogs barking are heard from the next room. ]
... Mmm. Good thing we left in a hurry.
[ not that he can't handle a few dogs, but it's less troubling now.
there is one door immediately in their sights and another as he walks forward. august checks the closer door — it's steel that echoes with the sound of rain blasting against it — but immediately stops as the growls of hunting dogs are heard. not a chance, just like how he doesn't give the next door a chance with the sound of undead groans and the thuds against the wooden door. occupied, clearly. he thinks about the layout of the area more before he checks the next room.
the next room is an all white room with only a door across it. with how strange this home is — who does it belong to? — august shuts the door. what an odd room to have in the first place.
the crashing of glass that's right behind them hurries the man to immediately go through the double doors at the end of the hall that leads to a narrow corridor with one more zombies. still carrying wendy, he sends a strong kick to the head, snapping it off before he turns right towards a blue door with what seems to be a bad handle. it takes two tries for him to open it. ]
Wait, wait - that one - does that go outside? August - [It’s difficult to point back. They’ve already passed it. Ah, but there were dogs all of a sudden? Where the fuck did those come from? Of course this can’t be easy.
He’s on a mission so it’s best to just keep the map folded for safekeeping and keep her mouth shut until they get somewhere not insane.
Steel door. Wood door. Dogs. More zombies. Clearly something’s gotten in (broken glass) and there’s only few doors between them. She’s trying to keep track of where they’ve been, figuring out directions and doors in her head, but she’s too frazzled and she refuses to pull the map out in case something happens to it while they’re on the run like this. Because they’ll really be sunk if it gets shredded to ribbons.
The white room is calm. Serene. Empty. She opens her mouth and nearly says they should stay here - just keep the doors shut for a few moments while they regroup. But whatever’s out there is gaining momentum and they need to keep going.
Screaming at the zombie jumpscare that occurs in the next room isn’t one of her finer moments, but Wendy can’t help it. She’s skittish, a total scaredy-cat, and a huge part of her never wants to wander outside of the technicians’ complex ever again. Not after this disaster. It isn’t classified as a total disaster in her mind - not yet, or potentially not at all - mostly because she’s here with him and he’s proving to be more than capable. It’s beyond impressive. The few things he’s told her about himself - they’re true. And it’s nice to know when someone is being truthful.
Her face is in his neck again, and her fingers are trembling as they grip onto his lapel. Nice and easy. He’s not going to let anything happen to you, Wendy Lin. Just keep repeating that in your head.]
Put me down and let me look. [A shaky little huff.] That’s what it says. Two seconds - I can handle it. I need to just sit and think.
[If he doesn’t listen to her, she’s just going to try and hop out of his arms herself. She’s stubborn, but she’s trying to do what she knows will help them out in the long run. Let her cook.]
[ before he's able to continue his sentence, the sound of the undead takes hold of his attention as he looks in front of the hallway. another one that has his hands raised as it takes slow steps towards them, to which — he holds wendy tight in his arms despite the struggle she initially gives — august sends in another kick and brings the zombie to the ground. they're becoming more of pests over threats. threats to him? hardly. threats to wendy? absolutely.
before he's able to stomp down on the creature's head, a splash from above forces him to take a step back. it sizzles against the skin of the undead — acid? but what causes it? this is the part where august finally lets wendy go not just to let her read the map but to investigate where on earth the green sludge from above comes from. need to make sure it doesn't hit either of them from the looks of it, the way it burns skin. at least it doesn't look like it would eat through their flesh and bones. ]
You check where we are, I'll check what else is there.
[ past the small hall is a set of stairs that heads up. ears catch more groans and staggered steps as his eyes notice a door beneath the staircase. a storage room most likely. the threat must be dealt with before they continue however, so he brings out his smart gun once he spots said threat heading towards the stairs as well. the same green sludge drools out of its mouth — disgusting along with the smell. three, two, one, and four bullets are sent flying towards its head. three bullets extra this time so that it stays dead and doesn't slobber over them anymore.
the door behind wendy begins to shake, banging of fists from the other side. ]
[Honestly more important things to worry about besides her ankle right now, August, and she nearly snaps that out loud (because she’s feeling testy, okay??) but -
Her struggling stops, and she tenses up, trying to flatten herself against him as much as possible, clinging to him once again as he attacks yet another one of these creeps before it gets the chance to get them. A big part of her really hates being helpless, but what exactly is she going to do here? And now she’s injured on top of everything else.
She’s surprised when August lets her go, mumbling her thanks to him along the way. She doesn’t notice the acid drool because she’s taking care not to put too much pressure on her bad foot and ankle. Unfolding the map, she hobbles a little but remains in place, leaning to one side. She shakes the document out a little and looks up - ]
Ah, shit. Don’t touch that! [He probably already knows that, given the sizzle. If only she could gather a sample for safekeeping… kind of impossible if it’s just going to burn through everything. A shame, really.]
Okay - okay. [Trying to focus here. She hobbles over to the nearest wall and smooths the map out so she can concentrate better.] We don’t have a lot of options here. This only covers the first floor - no idea where these stairs might take us. [She pins the map to the wall with one hand, her other gesturing to the aforementioned stairs.] Everything behind us… needs to stay there at this point. I think there’s a whole different wing we haven’t even looked at yet? Uh… maybe if we head upstairs and head back the way we came? [She points.] We can… circle back around and reach the front door that way? Maybe?
[The bullets interrupt her rambling, and she jumps from surprise, the map nearly fluttering to the floor as she squeaks. She scrambles to catch it, only to jump again and nearly fall over thanks to the sound of banging on the door coming from behind them.]
If this mansion has such a door, and I certainly hope it does.
[ august plans to climb up the stairs and see what else awaits them, but the sound of wood being slammed on — the way he hears it break in some parts as well — already warns him that more are coming. they must hurry out of the area already, or he should deal with them at the very least. it's the reason why he jumps over the rail and double checks the storage room beneath the stars: the door is unlocked, but lockable. there's food and water in some of the boxes as well as kerosene and a lighter. interesting stock this place has.
it does, however, give him an idea. one that he's sure wendy wouldn't agree too, which is why he walks over towards her and immediately scoops the woman up in his arms. ]
Come with me. [ as if he gives her a choice with how tight he holds her, his walk brisk towards the storage room. the door sounds weaker and weaker in such a short time alongside the footsteps growing. once he's inside the room, august places her down. ] Stay here and let me deal with the problem, all right?
[ a short pause, and then he brings out the whistler. from there he opens her hand and places it in hers alongside two magazines. ]
Just in case I somehow, though a delusional thought, miss one.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
— you've seen places rooted from your memories? [ whatever horrors she's dealt with, physically and psychologically, he assumes. ] Unfortunate. I thought someone of your position would be immune to your lord's powers and whatnot, being able to navigate through all the fog and all.
no subject
The irony of my new career path isn’t lost on me. I bet she thinks she’s being real funny. [Putting her in such a position that would atrophy her brain into absolute uselessness the more time goes on.]
no subject
Oh, yes. Though it has its own blood games after all, I'd imagine it enjoy variety unless it's truly an animal in mind and heart.
[ it's smart to force survivors to do this and that in trials though, isn't it?
at this point they're in the main lobby, heading to the opposite end of the hall. ]
Better your line of work over joining the unlucky ones, yes?
no subject
Here… forget it. It’s just a prison.]
I’m grateful it’s not me. [A slight nod.] I’ve seen so many of these trials at this point you’d think it wouldn’t get to me. It’s rare, but - sometimes they do.
[At least that means she’s still human.]
Should we check more doors?
no subject
[ he does, however, give wendy's hand another squeeze as they begin their walk. to imagine wendy on one of those disgusting rusty hooks until she's taken... he forces his imagination to stop least it gets worse and he doesn't want it to get worse. it's the reason why he doesn't let go of her hand until hearing a familiar groan when they enter the next room.
letting go of her hand, he makes a hand gesture as if to say stay here. the room they enter has a statue, a few paintings, a stepping ladder, a closed door, and a heavy looking console table blocking an open doorway with curtains. it's not long until another zombie makes itself known, trying to climb over the table. it's quick and easy to deal with the problem when all august has to do is slam its skull against the table until it's nothing but blood and flesh and bone.
he shakes the blood off his glove, unable to notice what looks like a rolled up piece of paper hanging in the jar the state holds. ]
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Wendy has no dossier on August, only knows the barest of minimums about the man, but as far as she’s concerned - he wouldn’t deserve to be stuck in the endless cycle of cat-and-mouse torture games either. Not after all the selfless kindness he’s shown towards her in the short time they’ve known each other.
She doesn’t even notice he was still holding her hand until it’s gone. Its absence is palatable. Worry on her face, she looks to him and nods in understanding. Her fingers flex, and she’s wringing her hands out of nerves as she stays behind.
She does take a step or two. They’re just hesitant ones. She wants to listen but doesn’t want to leave him alone. As long as he’s in her sight…
Her attention goes towards the layout of the room, the items inside with them. Up until he’s disposing of another zombie - this time with his hands instead of firearms. She doesn’t want to look - not at first - and simply turns her head, choosing to stare at the nearby statue, the paintings on the walls, back to the statue. The sounds are bad enough on their own. She does sneak a glance before the thing drops to the floor, brain utterly destroyed. And she makes a face, borderline disgusted.
Going to be obedient and stay put until told otherwise, still surveying their surroundings with occasional glances around.]
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he pushes the table to the side and walks over the body. another room... now that there's no problem he heads in first just in case there's trouble. fortunately there's nothing inside, and all he finds is another dagger that he grabs hold. now, because he's deep inside the room, august doesn't hear the rise of the deceased returning back onto its feed with its flesh scarred and bleeding, its nails long and sharpened — one of the fastest after its second death. if only he knew that these particular brand of zombies have a third chance at life, where it's faster and hungrier and has its lack of sights on wendy.
it runs right at her, hands forward and claws sharp in attempt to swipe. steam escapes through its orifices as it releases out monstrous growls with its sharp teeth revealed, some smashed thanks to august's work. it's not enough to deter its single thought of consumption. ]
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She turns her attention to the statue she’d been eyeballing before and -]
Hey August? [Wendy raises her voice, calling to him in the next room over. She approaches with careful steps.] I think I found something… [A big piece of paper, all rolled up and sticking out from a jar She grabs for it, gingerly removes it. Y’know - because places like this… they tend to have traps. Or whatever. In the movies, anyway. Why not extend the logic here?
She looks away from the open doorway entirely for the moment, busying herself with starting to unroll the - is this a map? Floor plan? Blueprints? She squints at the page, tilting it a few directions as more of the design is revealed to her.
And that’s when she realizes her mistake. Their mistake. The thing that was left for dead on the floor - it’s not on the floor anymore. The pool of blood is still there and it’s trailed through it, fresh footprints making a bee-line straight for her.]
AUGUST!!
[She screams and there’s a smashing noise as Wendy uses all her strength she didn’t know she had to push the statue down to the floor - anything to delay the second-time-reanimated corpse from reaching her. The statue is huge, much bigger than her - and heavier. She struggles with her first few attempts, gets frustrated and curses under her breath, but ultimately succeeds in tipping it over.
Why did it get back up? How did it get back up? Remove the head or destroy the brain and that’s it. No more zombie. That’s how it usually works, right? That’s how it’s always been. Unless - man-made. What she entertained before. Something involving a virus. That probably did this to this poor person.
Wendy’s head whips around, eyes desperately scanning for anything that could be used as a weapon as she backs away from danger. Key in pocket - that’s nothing. Map or blueprint currently crumpled in her stressed out, iron-clad grip - also nothing (but potentially something in terms of helping their escape… if… that… happens at this point in time). The table’s way over there - useless. Statue already smashed. She’s going to feel sore after that muscle strain.
Does she start running? She’s gonna start running. And try not to cry. This is bad.]
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the reason august isolates himself for twenty years is the guilt that plagues him up to this day. the guilt that reminds him each and everyday that it's his fault that kit siang is dead, yet also the same one that pushes him back onto his feet so that nathaniel doesn't become anything like he is: a person whose career brings him to ruin.
it's also the reason why panic — familiar, that feeling — sets in as he races back into the gallery room by the time wendy screams. august's heart races as he sees the culprit: a headless zombie. how the blood hell is that thing still alive? didn't he finish it like the rest? what mistake did he make again? leaving wendy alone... perhaps that's the mistake. just like leaving his brother-in-law alone because august is selfish.
the adrenaline and panic take over and combine themselves into pure aggression; august gets in between wendy and the zombie with a swift kick following towards his chest, which is strong enough to slam it against the wall. from there he pulls out the two daggers he collects during their journey and throws it towards its shoulders, pinning the creature against the wall. as it screams, august deflects sharp claws with his smg before shooting it.
forget not using guns when people under his protection are in trouble. again. the clip empties once, he reloads, and shoots the monster down until it's nothing left but meat and blood. by the time the second clip ends, all he can do is breathe in and out so harshly until he can try and relax himself.
it fails by the time he returns the weapon to its holster, and he's only halfway there by the time he looks back towards wendy with both hands on her shoulders. ]
Are you all right? Did that thing hurt you?
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Wendy hits the floor, the map dropping from her grip and bouncing a few times on the marble before rolling away. There’s a sob of relief from her as she pushes up from the floor with her arms, rushing to pick herself up and go. But she ends up crawling instead. Her leg drags behind her, and it hurts to try and put pressure on her foot to stand. It doesn’t feel like a break - that much she can assume - but her ankle isn’t in good shape. She’s hissing between her teeth with discomfort, exasperated, chest heaving, utterly panicked. Not wanting to give up on her escape the slightest bit.
The creature is quick, but August is quicker. Wendy exhales the breath she didn’t know she was holding hostage once she sees him charge between her and the monster from over her shoulder. Visibly relaxes, but only for the briefest moment before she topples over and curls into a ball on her side. Arms over her head to hide her face, his torn coat much too big on her frame.
It’s scary. She’s scared. But he’s got it, right? He does things like this all the time. He’s a fighter. Removed from the action - that’s where she belongs. Getting too close, being stuck in the middle - it triggers something in her she can’t even begin to handle. A code black that wasn’t supposed to happen. Everything she knew gone in less than ten minutes. Trials are different because it’s a guarantee that nothing will go wrong for her. Everything else is a gamble. Why did she think she could get away with being so careless? They shouldn’t be here.
Her hands shift to cover her ears at the sounds of the zombie’s horrible screams and rapid fire, fingers trembling and catching in her hair. She doesn’t dare look up, even after the commotion is quieted. Focuses on her breathing instead, trying to lower her heart rate. Her chest feels tight, like the organ is bound to burst through at any moment. She stays like this until she hears him speak.]
I’m f-fine. [Wendy shakes her head - no, it didn’t hurt her. She just wiped out, tripping over her own feet. Ankle is probably sprained. Does she bother mentioning it? She doesn’t want to be a burden…
When she sits up, it’s slow and careful. Her eyes are red, some tear stains on her cheeks. But she throws her arms around his shoulders and practically pulls him down to the floor. No words, just the strongest hug she can muster.]
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all it takes is one look and he can see the fear and anxiety written not just on her face, but everywhere. the way the tears flow down her cheeks, and her hold on him that's practically a vice grip. it's instinct that kicks in when he immediately wraps his arms around her small frame. it's instinct that makes him raise a hand and rest on the back of her head, stroking it with a certain amount of tenderness. it's also instinct that has him whisper: ]
I'm here. There's nothing to fear anymore so long as I'm around.
[ august lets wendy bring everything out so long as they're on the floor without trouble. however long she needs, he stays right beside her. ]
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There’s a soft sniffle from her, then the slowest, shakiest exhale. She gives a few little nods at his words.]
Th-Thanks. [That was rather quiet, so she tries again. Another sniffle, then a clear of her throat.] Thank you. I’m sorry, I just - freaked out. A little. [A soft huff. Her fingers flex. She’s clinging to him now, taking the time to simply rest in his embrace. Much calmer.]
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until she's able to return, he will guard her; the hand on the back of wendy's head runs down gently several times. he's held sok leng before when she cries and he knows what it's like to cry on someone's shoulder — even though the end result is being alone due to his mistake. still, all he can focus on is her. all he can do to help is to stay with her. therefore he holds her close and tight, stretching one leg so that they can be more comfortable if they're stuck on the floor for a while. ]
I noticed. [ he says as he leans his cheek on the top of her head. ] I assume you've never had to deal with them before. My apologies for picking a terrible place for our talk, dear.
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[All that’s available to her in this position is his neck, so she presses a soft kiss to his skin there. Her grip on him a bit looser, more relaxed than before. She stays put, resting in his warm embrace until her heart rate’s come back down to baseline and she doesn’t feel like hiding beneath a rock somewhere. It takes a bit.
Wendy’s better now. But even if she isn’t, she wants to make him believe she is. Her arms give August a squeeze of a hug before she slowly, carefully pulls away from him. She wipes at her eyes and face with her hand, but the tears end up soaking into his coat sleeve more. It’s oversized on her, the sleeve getting in the way.]
I uh - don’t have much experience, no. Sometimes I’d visit Zoo, but observing specimens in enclosures hardly counts.
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"Zoo" is familiar. another section of her workplace, like how she's part of the chemical department. the place where the monsters are handled. ]
Well, you already know I've never had to deal with such creatures before. [ he thinks about the kiss again. how terrified she is. it's the reason why he reaches out for her face and runs his fingers against it, wiping away her tears. ] All we have to do is adapt long enough for an escape.
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Right - yeah. [The slightest nod. Seems like she’s distracted.] Just have to be more careful I guess.
[She isn’t thinking about the kiss. It was impulsive. Slight. Felt right in the moment. They are rather close. But his hand on her cheek - yeah, that does it for her. There’s a soft sniffle, traces of a smile. And she automatically decides to ruin it. Typical Wendy.]
…Is this a bad time to tell you I think I busted my ankle? [And that smile turns into a more… embarrassed expression. Her head nods towards her leg, the one that’s stretched out beneath her. Have an annoyed sigh.]
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he takes part of the tail of his own coat and cuts off a long, thin piece until he's satisfied. once that's over, the knives are on the ground and he moves towards her ankle. wrapping it with the cut cloth — the coat is worth so much — he makes sure it's tight yet not too painful for wendy. make sure that it's one way to keep the swelling down.
once that's over however, august once more pockets the knives before scooping wendy into his arms as he stands up one more time. ]
I'll carry you until we're in a better room then. [ he says before walking towards the closed door like a husband carrying his wife through the threshold. ] Ready?
[ leaning forward slightly, he opens the door that leads to an L shaped hallway. thunder and lightning accompany the pouring rain as well as the sound of dogs barking from the outside. ]
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She looks around while August busies himself, worried they might not be alone. Anything is possible here. She spots the rolled up parchment and stretches out on her side, reaching across the floor with grabby fingers to snatch it up without moving much. It didn’t go far from where she dropped it. When she slinks back to sit more comfortably, she lets out the softest hiss from the initial discomfort of the wrap. It needs to be tight, she gets that. But she was distracted.]
Thank you. Just gimme a minute and— [Squeak!] You don’t have to - do that… [Grumble grumble. Too late. He’s already picked her up, and she forces herself to relax in his arms. No use causing a fuss.]
I’m fine. Map. [She nudges it at his shoulder, trying not to laugh. Smiling a little just because.] Blueprints? Might be something like that.
[He’s preoccupied at the moment, since he decided he wanted to be extra, but at least he knows they need to take a look at it.
Is the rain ever going to stop? From the sound of it, the weather has only gotten worse outside once they enter the nearest hall.]
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Now where did you find that? [ he asks while trying to look for said map at her form. will she bring it out for him to look at. ] And are we heading in the right direction?
[ before august is able to add more questions however, his steps freeze upon hearing glass crack at the same time as thunder roars. it's a moment later that he walks once more, and at a brisk pace. it's no time for more trouble when she's hurt. they need a break room of sorts, or at least somewhere warm again that isn't the dining area. too much blood and the likes. ]
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Hold on, she’s attempting to unroll the map without smacking them with it.]
Let’s see… [Is it upside down? Yeah. One second. She turns it over, then starts scrutinizing. He can take a peek if he wants - she’s holding it out far enough for the both of them to look at while they walk.]
Where are we right now…
[The sound of glass catches her attention too and she perks up, glancing around and looking worried. The map is hurriedly folded over. The uptick in his pace does not go unnoticed.]
Just - try anything. We can always lock the door or barricade it or something. Then figure out where we are with this.
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by the time they leave the L-shaped hallway, closing the door behind them, the muffled sounds of glass breaking and dogs barking are heard from the next room. ]
... Mmm. Good thing we left in a hurry.
[ not that he can't handle a few dogs, but it's less troubling now.
there is one door immediately in their sights and another as he walks forward. august checks the closer door — it's steel that echoes with the sound of rain blasting against it — but immediately stops as the growls of hunting dogs are heard. not a chance, just like how he doesn't give the next door a chance with the sound of undead groans and the thuds against the wooden door. occupied, clearly. he thinks about the layout of the area more before he checks the next room.
the next room is an all white room with only a door across it. with how strange this home is — who does it belong to? — august shuts the door. what an odd room to have in the first place.
the crashing of glass that's right behind them hurries the man to immediately go through the double doors at the end of the hall that leads to a narrow corridor with one more zombies. still carrying wendy, he sends a strong kick to the head, snapping it off before he turns right towards a blue door with what seems to be a bad handle. it takes two tries for him to open it. ]
What else does the map say?
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He’s on a mission so it’s best to just keep the map folded for safekeeping and keep her mouth shut until they get somewhere not insane.
Steel door. Wood door. Dogs. More zombies. Clearly something’s gotten in (broken glass) and there’s only few doors between them. She’s trying to keep track of where they’ve been, figuring out directions and doors in her head, but she’s too frazzled and she refuses to pull the map out in case something happens to it while they’re on the run like this. Because they’ll really be sunk if it gets shredded to ribbons.
The white room is calm. Serene. Empty. She opens her mouth and nearly says they should stay here - just keep the doors shut for a few moments while they regroup. But whatever’s out there is gaining momentum and they need to keep going.
Screaming at the zombie jumpscare that occurs in the next room isn’t one of her finer moments, but Wendy can’t help it. She’s skittish, a total scaredy-cat, and a huge part of her never wants to wander outside of the technicians’ complex ever again. Not after this disaster. It isn’t classified as a total disaster in her mind - not yet, or potentially not at all - mostly because she’s here with him and he’s proving to be more than capable. It’s beyond impressive. The few things he’s told her about himself - they’re true. And it’s nice to know when someone is being truthful.
Her face is in his neck again, and her fingers are trembling as they grip onto his lapel. Nice and easy. He’s not going to let anything happen to you, Wendy Lin. Just keep repeating that in your head.]
Put me down and let me look. [A shaky little huff.] That’s what it says. Two seconds - I can handle it. I need to just sit and think.
[If he doesn’t listen to her, she’s just going to try and hop out of his arms herself. She’s stubborn, but she’s trying to do what she knows will help them out in the long run. Let her cook.]
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[ before he's able to continue his sentence, the sound of the undead takes hold of his attention as he looks in front of the hallway. another one that has his hands raised as it takes slow steps towards them, to which — he holds wendy tight in his arms despite the struggle she initially gives — august sends in another kick and brings the zombie to the ground. they're becoming more of pests over threats. threats to him? hardly. threats to wendy? absolutely.
before he's able to stomp down on the creature's head, a splash from above forces him to take a step back. it sizzles against the skin of the undead — acid? but what causes it? this is the part where august finally lets wendy go not just to let her read the map but to investigate where on earth the green sludge from above comes from. need to make sure it doesn't hit either of them from the looks of it, the way it burns skin. at least it doesn't look like it would eat through their flesh and bones. ]
You check where we are, I'll check what else is there.
[ past the small hall is a set of stairs that heads up. ears catch more groans and staggered steps as his eyes notice a door beneath the staircase. a storage room most likely. the threat must be dealt with before they continue however, so he brings out his smart gun once he spots said threat heading towards the stairs as well. the same green sludge drools out of its mouth — disgusting along with the smell. three, two, one, and four bullets are sent flying towards its head. three bullets extra this time so that it stays dead and doesn't slobber over them anymore.
the door behind wendy begins to shake, banging of fists from the other side. ]
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Her struggling stops, and she tenses up, trying to flatten herself against him as much as possible, clinging to him once again as he attacks yet another one of these creeps before it gets the chance to get them. A big part of her really hates being helpless, but what exactly is she going to do here? And now she’s injured on top of everything else.
She’s surprised when August lets her go, mumbling her thanks to him along the way. She doesn’t notice the acid drool because she’s taking care not to put too much pressure on her bad foot and ankle. Unfolding the map, she hobbles a little but remains in place, leaning to one side. She shakes the document out a little and looks up - ]
Ah, shit. Don’t touch that! [He probably already knows that, given the sizzle. If only she could gather a sample for safekeeping… kind of impossible if it’s just going to burn through everything. A shame, really.]
Okay - okay. [Trying to focus here. She hobbles over to the nearest wall and smooths the map out so she can concentrate better.] We don’t have a lot of options here. This only covers the first floor - no idea where these stairs might take us. [She pins the map to the wall with one hand, her other gesturing to the aforementioned stairs.] Everything behind us… needs to stay there at this point. I think there’s a whole different wing we haven’t even looked at yet? Uh… maybe if we head upstairs and head back the way we came? [She points.] We can… circle back around and reach the front door that way? Maybe?
[The bullets interrupt her rambling, and she jumps from surprise, the map nearly fluttering to the floor as she squeaks. She scrambles to catch it, only to jump again and nearly fall over thanks to the sound of banging on the door coming from behind them.]
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[ august plans to climb up the stairs and see what else awaits them, but the sound of wood being slammed on — the way he hears it break in some parts as well — already warns him that more are coming. they must hurry out of the area already, or he should deal with them at the very least. it's the reason why he jumps over the rail and double checks the storage room beneath the stars: the door is unlocked, but lockable. there's food and water in some of the boxes as well as kerosene and a lighter. interesting stock this place has.
it does, however, give him an idea. one that he's sure wendy wouldn't agree too, which is why he walks over towards her and immediately scoops the woman up in his arms. ]
Come with me. [ as if he gives her a choice with how tight he holds her, his walk brisk towards the storage room. the door sounds weaker and weaker in such a short time alongside the footsteps growing. once he's inside the room, august places her down. ] Stay here and let me deal with the problem, all right?
[ a short pause, and then he brings out the whistler. from there he opens her hand and places it in hers alongside two magazines. ]
Just in case I somehow, though a delusional thought, miss one.
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supposed to sleep now but
u sneak
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