Night 63: Bus 1

[age_of_kings]

By the time the darkness fell and the strange fluxing of air swept across the buses, Tolten still wasn't certain what was going on. Only that there was some problem with the final bus, and that they had been waiting to resume.

Of course now it was very certain that there would be no return trip tonight. Whatever the implications of that were, the young king had no idea. Nor did he spare a thought to it. Rather he found himself lurching to his feet and losing his lunch in the empty seat space behind him.

It was the only reaction his body could offer to what he saw unfold before his eyes, a twisted carnival show of gore and depravity the likes of which he had never imagined. Even the creatures in the sewers were less violent and torturous than this!

He knew he didn't have time for pity or wonderment as to whether or not the staff was always like that, under the surface, but his mind was slow to follow. He could only stare, shaking, his mind buzzing with fear and disgust and sorrow.

This was simply wrong!

[For Locke!]

Comments

[oneman_onekill]

Niikura had been wondering what would happen if they got stuck out here, and as usual, the institute hadn't disappointed as the nurse fell to the ground screaming and ugh that was disgusting. He grabbed Shiina's arm, eyes still locked on the scene in front of him, as he pulled her out of the seat and into the aisle as fast as possible. "We gotta go," he heard himself say distantly. "Can't hang around."

It was just starting to sink in that this was what could be happening to Shiina too in a few nights. Suddenly, he felt as if he were going to be ill; the thought of watching her contort and writhe on the ground as--he shook his head violently as he turned to find the exit. Couldn't think about that right now--he wouldn't let himself. They just needed to focus on what was in front of them.

"Stay close. We need to stick together at all costs." He was going to be sticking to her like glue, personally.

[requitedfate]

Shiina locked up, unable to tear her eyes away from the tormented screams and seizing of the nurse. There was no mistaking what was happening before them. She was turning, turning into something monstrous. In-human. Deadly.

She felt the tug at her arm, and moved along with wooden legs. She still couldn't rip her eyes away from the dreadful scene. She stumbled back through the aisle despite being yanked and jostled by Shou and the other patients.

"... stick together..."

Words seemed to echo in her head, delaying her response. But the echos finally breached her fogged brain and Shiina's fight or flight instincts kicked in. Flights was the only option in this case, and she pushed along with Niikura through to the back of the bus and out the emergency exit.

[to here]