damned_institute | Night 67: West Wing, North Hall 1-A

[From here, and for X.]

The physical pain and mental worrying continued as Zero entered the next hallway. Here, however, it was finally enough to give him pause.

...If he were really about to change into something horrible, then why was he just nonchalantly wandering over to where X and Harpuia were? Even if he didn't change, there was a chance now that he might. It was a risk not worth taking.

But then where could he go? Where was it safe for him to be? He contemplated hurrying through the halls to an isolated part of the building - maybe upstairs, or the Sun Room...some place he could hide out where few prisoners would be bothered to go. Or outside? The Recreational Field was just behind him. That might be a little safer...

But he needed to decide quickly, and get moving somewhere. Fast.

[From Here!]

If memory served him right, Zero's room was the other M block, north of X's and Harpuia's.

...and to get to it, X had to travel some of the same hallways that he'd traveled on his first night. Funny. X didn't think he would have gotten even the slightest bit nostalgic concerning this hellhole.

But even here...even though he'd only been here for a few days, it felt like far longer. Time just seemed to drag o--

--!!!!!!!

There was someone moving in that hallway.

X ignored the prickle of Deja Vu in the back of his mind, hugged the wall, and crept forward.

His companion could be anything, friend or foe. All he needed to do was squint his eyes, get a good judge of who it was...

...

...and X let out a breath he didn't know he was holding when he saw Zero.

Creeping towards him, X dared to whisper (though in the silence of the hallway, it felt like he was screaming):

"Zero?"

Edited 2012-12-01 18:38 (UTC)

Ah-. Zero had been looking back at the door to the Recreational Field, so hearing someone familiar call his name from somewhere he couldn't see immediately threw him into alert mode. When he turned back around to confirm voice to face and realized it was X standing in front of him, he internally winced. Too slow. X had been quick about leaving his room, too, and he'd even decided to go looking for Zero rather than standing around in one of the other hallways waiting for him. On any other night, this would have been close to relieving. A convenience, even. Now, it was just deeply concerning.

...And why was his stomach rumbling even more? That and the pain in his leg weren't helping matters any.

"...X." Zero stared at his friend, but then frowned and glanced away uncomfortably for a moment. Should he be completely honest with X? Or should he just try to run? Knowing X, he probably would object to Zero being on his own, possible impending transformation or not, and he'd definitely try to stop Zero from running if he didn't know what was going on. But would he listen to reason if Zero told him their being separated was for the better tonight? Or would his optimism convince him to stick to Zero no matter what?

He'd think about it a moment longer. For now, Zero would ask about something unrelated that was also currently bothering him (though not nearly as much as his current state of health). "Where's Harpuia?" Odd that he wouldn't be right at X's side...

“Harpuia...?”

X bit his lip.

“I didn't see him on the way here. I got worried when I couln't find either of you at the usual spot, so I decided to look for you myself.”

...in case something went wrong. Though maybe Harpuia was waiting for them at the usual spot now...maybe X should have waited to find Zero.

...no. In this place, X didn't much like standing around for long at night. Besides, they could go and meet with Harpuia together now.

...Harpuia. X hoped that he was all right...

Edited 2012-12-01 21:12 (UTC)

Harpuia was missing, too...? No, it couldn't be just simple negligence. A guy like him who emphasized duty over almost everything would never leave X to his own devices without good reason. Perhaps he, too...? Zero couldn't stop the thought from entering his head, as bad as it was. But considering Landel's threat before dinner, the injections...it was very much a real possibility.

...Maybe he'd chosen to stay in his room, if that were the case. Zero was suddenly regretting not doing the same.

Or maybe he was just late. Unlikely, but not impossible. It was a more optimistic viewpoint, anyway.

Harpuia's current condition didn't change Zero's, though. The once-Reploid shook his head and then stared hard at his friend. Honest. He was choosing be honest. And hopefully this would work. "He might be running late. You should go see if he's waiting for us in one of the block hallways." He paused for only a moment to think on his next few words more carefully. He couldn't just say anything - X wouldn't listen to 'anything'. "But if you can't find him there, then don't keep looking. It's...better if we stay separated tonight."

Another pause, and then he added (for clarification): "All of us."

Zero may have hoped that X would have stepped back and been okay with it.

He may have hoped that X would have said: "I understand. I'll take you at your word." and go on his merry way without any questions whatsoever.

Unfortunately, Zero was sadly mistaken. X's worry was already off the charts, with concern for Harpuia rising by the moment, while for a bit, X thought that his worry for Zero was unfounded.

...Nope. Not anymore.

"Did something happen?" X asked, not moving from his spot. Blunt as always; when it came to asking probing questions like...earlier, he may have preferred to take the more diplomatic approach, but in times like this? His age was apparent and his forwardness even more so.

Of course he would want an explanation. Of course X wouldn't just take a simple order without wondering why. Zero let out a small, impatient sigh. Not that he blamed his friend for being concerned - he would be too if the roles were reversed - but his eagerness to split away from everyone with a pulse was growing by the second, along with the pains in his leg and his hunger for some reason. The longer they stood here talking...no. They had to hurry. They didn't have all night.

"Something might happen and if it does, it won't be good for anyone near me." His words came out somewhat hastier than usual, another outward sign that he wanted to minimize the chitchat and get going already. But regardless, he would give X a fuller explanation if that would make him understand. "Landel wasn't kidding when he said he was going to give some of us that 'extra help'. Now something's happening to me, and whatever it is might just get you killed. So it's safer if I go on alone."

And that should be that. That was all X needed to know. And to prove how serious he was about this, Zero was going to turn away from X and start walking towards the Recreational Field door now. (...Trying his best to ignore his physical pain in the meantime.)

X's blood ran cold, icicles piercing through ripe flesh--

Something was happening to Zero. Landel had done something to him (that phrase...'extra help' had put X on edge when he'd first heard it, too), and he was trying to go alone in order to prevent harm from coming to X and Harpuia.

Something was happening to him...

--then hot, boiling within his veins.

Something was happening to him. And he wanted to go alone and suffer through whatever it was by himself?!

X had only two words to describe his sentiments towards Zero's game plan:

Hell and No.

If Zero thought X was the kind of man who ran away from his friends when they were suffering, then he had another thing coming. He'd let Zero fall once; he wasn't going to do that again, never again.

Leaving him alone was not an option.

X said nothing, following behind Zero.

He didn't need words: his actions were loud enough.

Unfortunately for X, Zero wasn't about to let any following happen so easily. He didn't have to look back to know how his friend was reacting to the news; he could hear those footsteps well enough, thank you very much. Was he deaf? Did he not just hear Zero specifically say that he was going on alone? (Of course he did. It was X. What else would he do?)

But instead of saying anything immediately, Zero waited until he was a step away from the Recreational Field door before he swiftly turned around and directed all of his negative emotions at his friend, an obvious glare on his face to go with them. "Don't follow me," he snapped, as if he were a military officer ordering around a stubborn younger subordinate.

Before he could give any lectures, however, he hesitated...and the glare on his face let up a little. A strange, unknown feeling suddenly overcame him as he stared at X. Something about him... He couldn't put a finger on the feeling, but...what was...

His shoulder... He just wanted to reach out, and...

The once-Reploid shook his head, trying to snap out of...whatever that feeling was, ignoring another protest from his stomach in the meantime. Great...so what, staring at X triggered his body to change faster, then? In other words, it was something else he was going to be avoiding from now on. Will do. Zero turned back to the door and reached for the handle - but not without continuing his lecture in the meantime. "I told you it isn't safe. And I'm not gonna let you risk your life trying to protect me."

He was going through this door, whether X liked it or not. Where he would go from there, he had no clue yet. Over the wall? Sounded like a good idea. He'd decide for certain momentarily.

[To here.]

Edited 2012-12-07 03:15 (UTC)

[from here]

It was only a short skip from here to the— Was there someone else out here? Another patient sneaking out? He couldn't risk it; he'd have to avoid whoever it was very carefully.

It still wasn't too late to turn back, Ryusei thought as he pressed himself next to the door to the next hallway. It was a long stretch of hall; he couldn't fling himself carelessly down it, but there was nowhere to hide if he was caught there. And he couldn't see enough not to be sure he wouldn't bang into anything; if he turned his flashlight on here, he'd be discovered by the other person.

—Safer to dodge through the door for now.

[to here]

[from here]

Going left and through the field had always been the shortest path to M99 and had additionally always held the highest risk of a battle. In his current state Kurogane didn't know if he could handle what might be lurking in the field, brainwashed or not. At the same time, the path through the hallways wasn't always a safe bet. Now with Landel's announcement the ninja couldn't trust that staying out longer wouldn't lead to even more trouble than what might have been waiting outside.

Thinking back to the last part of the day, Kurogane recalled that the day had been clear through the Sun Room's windows. With no clouds, there would be more light outside and more of a chance to be spotted. Inside he had the guaranteed cover of the shadows barring any interruptions from Landel. If nothing more, keeping in the dark would let him adjust more to the new eye.

With his decision made, he took the right hallway.

[gone here]

Edited 2012-11-30 20:06 (UTC)

[From here.]

Lloyd thought he could hear movement and maybe a few whispers of hushed conversation elsewhere in the hall, but it was hard to say for certain if it was real, or if his imagination was playing tricks on him. A quick scan of the hall didn't reveal anything, but the beam of his flashlight didn't reach that far. Nothing was jumping out at him, though, so he was probably safe for the moment. Better to keep going. He had no idea how much time it would take to investigate whatever it was Kratos wanted to look at, and there was only so much time in the night.

He turned right, heading to the next hallway.

[To here.]

Edited 2012-12-03 16:08 (UTC)

[From here.]

Between Lloyd's form disappearing further down the hallway and that Zero guy talking to someone else close-by, Guy was surprised to see a few familiar people right away. Of course, everyone had their own plans, and so he didn't hesitate to start down the hall with Claude at his side. Anise almost always beat them to the meeting spot, so he wanted to make sure they didn't delay any more than necessary.

While he usually wasn't one to show off, he figured that he should tell Claude about his finished sheath. As they walked, he twisted slightly so that the leather sheath was more visible, and then gestured to it.

"So, I finally finished this tonight. It looks like it's going to work pretty well, at least." For now, he was going to leave out the fact that he'd mainly had the time to work on it because his roommate had disappeared. Claude didn't need to hear that when he was probably still riding high on the fact that he'd been cured.

All in all, things were shaping up to be pretty lucky. Claude couldn't even let the Head Doctor's ominous message from earlier get him down. Boyish smile plastered on his face, he kept close to Guy as they ventured out of the patient block.

When his friend showed him his sheath, he leaned in to get a better look at his handiwork.

"Oh, wow," he said with raised eyebrows. "That looks great! I mean, I guess I'm not surprised, since you seem really good with your hands and all. But, um, you know, it's amazing you were able to find the time and motivation to work on it."

He hadn't even touched his own piddly leather, but that didn't make him less happy to see his friend's completed project. Claude had his own issues to deal with, not to mention less time, so it was only natural that Guy would finish his first.

((To here.))

[From here]

Yuri followed the most logical pathway from his room. He couldn't be stuck in the bathrooms all night. He expected at almost any time for nurses to come from him, conditioned to have them scolding whenever he tried to stray from the objective they had for him.

Was Kotetsu and Barnaby roaming the same areas? It should be an interesting encounter if they were ever to meet again.

Before he could start to explore, his head throbbed and visions of the past flooded his brain. Memories of the abuse, his father's alcohol fueled rage, it made him lean against the nearest wall. His scar flared up, but luckily his was obscured by his Lunatic mask. Gritting his teeth, he ushered the thoughts away. Not now, anytime but now.

When he took one step, he heard something coming in the halls. Instinctively, he tried to flee for door. But would he make it there in time?

The desire to escape had faded with the Sun, as too had Brook's mind despite his attempts to fight what had happened to him. He'd known what he'd done the night before, to that patient, and that losing over to Landel's control would mean something that horrible happening again. Yet even knowing all that, he hadn't been able to do anything more than plead as his thoughts left him and his voice died off.

Now he was back in the hallways, sword returned to his repaired arm where it had already been drawn. Again, there was something he wanted. There was no point in putting away his blade.

Movement somehow caught his attention, and he turned empty sockets down the hallway, finding a human stumbling through. There. He took one slow step, then a second, and with the third lifted his sword and thrust towards the human.

Very fortunately, Yuri was best at evasion tactics. As his night job required executing those with superhuman abilities, he developed some great reflexes. He moved out of the way, dashing towards the other side of the hallway.

His brows furrowed. He would rather avoid killing outright, but he had no qualms of doing that in self defense. The eyes of his mask turned white and blue-green flames shoot out as a warning towards the other man.

"Oh~ Do you have some business with me?" He inquired, edging closer to the door.

For the first time, the creature had missed, and in feeling his blade his not flesh, but the plaster of a wall, ended up unable to understand what had happened. It's head tilted down at the resonating blade, lost at the absence of what he wanted. There was no scent, and no blood, only a fresh cut in the wall and a sudden desire to correct the mistake.

It heard the human speak and swung around, pulling the sword from the wall and setting it again as the mummy gave a low groan.

Yuri moved swiftly around the strikes. It was rather easy to read his movement and with his agile body made him very hard to get a direct hit. However once the sword managed to graze his side, he knew he couldn't flee now, especially with his nerfed powers.

"What a troublesome creature you are." He conjectured up his first flame dyed in blue-green. "Those who present themselves as dangers to society must be eliminated. So face your final judgement." He shot his fire from only the distance of a few feet.

Whatever the human said fell on deaf holes as the mummy was lacking ears, the creature continuing to attack despite the agility of his target. The other humans hadn't been so troublesome. Another groan, louder and distinctly annoyed echoed over the sound of steel slicing through the air before finally one of the sounds changed - a graze that tore fabric and caught enough to bring the scent of blood through.

There was what he wanted.

Drawing back, the zombie moved to strike the same spot again and make the blood flow more freely. As it did, the empty holes of its eye caught the light of the newly formed flames coming from the human. It had taken no issue with the human's eyes glowing, but this new occurrence told it something. Whether it saw or not was in question, however it could not feel. No pain, no heat from the flames, and no remorse for anything it attacked, however the creature did possess something. It had been modified to obey some base form of instinct. That was the reason it went for humans, and became more aggressive at the scent of blood. It was additionally the reason it backed down against anything that, traditionally, did not mix well with zombies.

With the flames now flying for it, the blade halted as it moved to dodge, ducking off to the right as it instinctively jumped back - the first time it had ever needed to withdraw from any.

[ooc: Sorry for taking so long! I didn't get the notif for this thread! DX Anyway, the moment the fire touches Brook, he will be well-done, and I didn't know how long you want to thread... I'll understand if you want to move on/have something else for Yuri to do and want a short thread, but we can get creative for dragging it out if that is what you would like. I am good either way!]

Yuri didn't bat an eye toward the creature. He had limited fire power, but if he could just get one more flame out he would be free this time. He could use that as a distraction to flee if necessary. He had better things to do and must rest in order to use them again.

Waiting for the right time to strike, he swiftly moved towards the nearest door. But he couldn't help but say some parting words. "I have no ill will towards the innocent, but you are only a danger towards society and must be exterminated!"

Whipping up his second flame, he tried spreading as far wide as he could and shot it off towards the monster. At the most it was only two feet across. While Brook was occupied he used the valuable time to flee into the shadows.

[ooc: Either way is good, I just might be slow at tagging myself. I would prefer if the flames would touch him this time but it's all up to you!]

This was the first time the monster had felt any sense of conflict in attacking its prey. It wanted to get at the human, taste the blood it had finally managed to draw and have flesh once again, yet the threat of fire was keeping it from striking forward. Both were instinct - to feed, and yet not to burn - and eventually one would have to win out.

The human did not hesitate or seem conflicted in any way, moving again and spouting more words. The potential that his prey would get away took the zombie's hesitation from it and made it move as before, the creature lunching ahead to strike. And, just as before, the strangely colored flames came again. There was a momentary move to dodge, however the zombie did not follow through on that, instead keeping his strike on course. Blood and flesh were more important, his desire to feed more instinctive than self-preservation as his dried skin caught in the flame and ignited easily.

They'd fixed him once already. If he burned, they'd fix him again, and this way he would be able to feed.

Yuri kept himself distanced, and kept a eagle's eye on the beast. He didn't wish harm upon anyone, but this beast was nothing more than a savage capable of harming other people. He had to do something about it. Or otherwise trouble would stir. After a minute, he turned around to leave.

He was about to leave but straggled to a halt just before the exit. The memories of his past, beatings, fire, screams. His most vivid memories came back to him. Under his mask, he tightened his lips while the scar darkened on the facial skin. He didn't think much was strange about it though, this place was just made for messing with him.

He threw one last glance up at the creature. Would it continue to pursue him?

Without the ability to feel the fire or worry over what was happening to him, the mummy, now set ablaze, continued to move. Its course had not changed from going after its prey, however its speed was hampered by the flames, as was its vision, however much it had. Vision wasn't necessary though as, even over the fresh scent of burning flesh and bone, the mummy could still make out the more appetizing one of blood.

It groaned and reached out one fiery limb to grab for its meal while the other melted off, dropping the sword from its grasp. The sword clattered to the ground, a melted piece of what had once been zombie-hand still attached.

[from here.]

This time Gabriel didn't stop. He ducked his head and made his way down the hallway as quickly as he couldn't, not looking up at anyone else, just focussed on the beam of light from his torch at his feet. He came, abruptly, across scorch marks on the walls of floor, damage of a fight, and hesitated long enough to look around; but the battlers were gone. The hall was silent.

Mostly. Not exactly. Silent in a heavy way, in a dreading way, in the way of a building so filled with terror and violence that it was audible even on the physical plane long after it was over.

And Gabriel was unnerved by it. By all of it. Whatever Landel had done to him had rattlde the Archangel--hard. He'd started to feel over-confident. Complacent. His heart thudding in his chest, hand pressed up against the rosary around his neck, scarcely aware of the prayers that fell from his lips, Gabriel hurried toward the door at the end of the hall like there was an exit behind it--even though he knew there wasn't.

[to here.]

Edited 2012-12-12 14:02 (UTC)

[[from here]]

He'd walked this path before, more times than he cared to remember by now, but with the prickling edge of urgency in his awareness Sasuke had to wonder if there were times he couldn't remember -- more than the ones that had ended in confused awakenings on an operation bed. All the nights he'd never woken at all -- but those were thoughts that would only serve to distract, and with long ease of practice he segmented them, closed them off, and set them aside. Onward.

[[to here]]

Night 67: West Wing, North Hall 1-A

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I wrote this with a stylus, so forgive any mistakes ;;

o/ !

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