Night 64: M41-M50 Hallway

[stop_the_rain]

Murphy wasn't able to control his knee jerk reaction to the static, gripping his desk chair as the lights went out and bracing for an attack he quickly realized wasn't about to come. And the Big Doc's voice carried on, bringing back unpleasant memories for the ex-con. He frowned, uncomfortable, not sure what to think or how to take the message....

He knew all too well what it was to turn into a monster.

When the computer system fell to some sort of electronic epileptic fit, Murphy just shook his head. Flashlight in one hand and chair in the other, he headed out into the hallway. He'd trust Harvey's assertion that there were plenty of directions to go, and trust his own luck he'd find one. There wasn't much else that he could do.

And maybe he'd find someone who needed help. He'd managed to keep Nina safe last night. That was more than he'd ever managed in Silent Hill. That was a good sign, wasn't it? And against all odds he was alive, and as long as he was alive he had the power to change his own fate.

Or so he kept telling himself as he ventured out into the far-more-active darkness of the institute.

Comments

[dualistic]

Luckily for Harvey, Murphy didn't hesitate to leave once the lights went off and the doors unlocked, which left him with the freedom to do whatever he wanted with the supplies in his room. Their room, technically, but he saw it more as his considering the fact that Murphy was so new.

As Harvey went to go sort through the metal box that carried his belongings, he thought over the strange intercom announcement. Harrington was the name that had been used, and it was one that was recognized by anyone who had been around during the military takeover. Had they really managed to hack into Landel's systems somehow? If so, that was pretty impressive.

Even after being given a clue like that, though, it didn't mean much to Harvey. He wasn't suffering any symptoms, and while it was possible he knew someone who was (Lana came to mind first), he was sure those people could investigate it for themselves.

Besides, he'd already made plans with Scott and Sangamon, and as far as he knew neither of them were ill. He liked to think it would have been brought up by now. It looked like in this one instance, they'd all lucked out. On top of it all, he did have that extra box of ammo, and while he didn't need any of it now, it was certainly a relief to know it was there.

He tucked his gun into the elastic of his pants and then grabbed his flashlight and metal pipe, just like always. By the time he left his room, Murphy was long gone, so he didn't need to worry about seeming suspicious. Harvey moved down the halls and made it out of the block in no time.

[To here.]

[skeletonenigma]

Well, the new announcement was... schizophrenic, to say the least.

By the time Skulduggery's conversation with the Scarecrow of Oz - and he didn't mind taking another moment to fully appreciate how bizarre that sentence was, even for him - had finished, and the intercom crackled with what sounded like someone hacking into the frequency, the former skeleton's head was properly spinning. It sounded like everyone who was sick during the day had nothing but bad news to look forward to, just like Skulduggery predicted. It also sounded like there was a cure. Good for them. He just hoped someone would have the decency to make sure as many people got it as possible.

The hacking of the intercom also suggested that someone in a position of power was trying to help. Once again, good for them. Skulduggery, for his part, had the thick coat from the wardrobe on and the slippers off before the wonderful feeling of magic at his fingertips returned to him. Ignoring the flashlight and radio he had found earlier that evening, Skulduggery bid the Scarecrow a somewhat hasty farewell, and stepped out into the hallway.

Let's see what he could get done in less than an hour this time.

M44

[earthling]

Once Claude wolfed down his steak dinner, he'd started his usual routine of preparing for night. Of course, he moved slower than normal, since his body felt heavier now that he'd been up and about for several shifts. Maybe he'd overdone it, especially since he'd been trying to tell himself that his condition wasn't serious.

After hearing repeated references to patients being at risk of changing into monsters, though, Claude was starting to reevaluate the situation. Seeing the nurses' bodies twist into something no longer human scared him, and the thought of suffering the same fate scared him even more. Worst of all, it wasn't just him dealing with these issues. Judging from what Guy had said, Claude got the feeling that Anise was also contending with the symptoms.

That was why, when the strange message filtered through the intercom, a sudden sense of relief washed over him. He'd been starting to wonder if the rebels outside had given up on them, but it sounded like they were trying to steer them in the right direction. While Claude still felt like they would probably have to work for their own freedom, and he didn't always trust what outsiders told them after some of his previous experiences, he was desperate enough that he was willing to accept their help.

Once he slipped into his uniform and gathered some of his things, Claude made sure to leave Ashton's old blade out on his bed. Then, after a moment of hesitation, he jotted down a quick note to leave beside it:

Tolten,

This sword used to belong to a close friend of mine. I know he'd be happy to know that someone was using it. Please take good care of it for me, okay?

- Claude

It was smaller than a standard-sized sword, one half of a set of twin blades, but he hoped his friend could get some use out of it. Still, Claude was satisfied to know that he wasn't giving it to some total stranger, and he was certain Tolten would appreciate having the sword either way.

With that taken care of, Claude placed his hard hat on his head, grabbed his own weapon, and headed out for the door.

((To here.))

M???

[knightspirit]

He wasn't sure how long it had been—honestly, he didn't even remember ever going to sleep—but after the flood of excitement and accomplishment from their victory, it was hard not to feel at peace with everything. Even now, in a state a half sleep, it was like he was still there celebrating with everyone, the words of Hibiki Seigou still ringing in his mind. But something seemed different, somehow. The voice was younger, and the words seemed to be shifting into something else. Instead of fading out like a dream might, they became clearer and less distant.

Suddenly, it clicked that he really was hearing another voice, and Kyousuke bolted upright, now completely awake. He listened quietly in the darkness, eyebrows slowly coming together in confusion. 'Change into beasts'...? The voice went mechanical, and mentioned something about a cure, but everything was difficult to comprehend, and held no meaning for him. What was going on? Where was he? He still couldn't make anything out in the darkness, but he didn't need to be able to see to tell that that this wasn't his room. He made a faint noise of frustration, before trying to feel his way to his feet.

The motion caused something to fall from the side of the bed, and he felt around for it, fingers coming into contact with something metallic. ... A flashlight? He clicked it on, and shone it around the room, but apart from confirming that he wasn't where he was supposed to be, there wasn't anything particularly interesting about the room. There was another bed, but it looked unused, and everything about the room seemed intended to be functional instead of inviting. He noticed that his clothes were different, too. They reminded him a bit of hospital clothes, but they were a different color than what he was familiar with, nor had he ever seen any with the almost mocking smiley face on his chest. He looked down at it in disdain. Was this supposed to be a joke?

Before he left, he checked the closet, and slipped on the pair of boots waiting there—they looked like they had a lot more support than the slippers that were laid out, and right now, he couldn't have cared less that he was indoors. He wouldn't be much longer, if he had any say about it. He stepped out into the hall, finding it was also completely dark, but instead of leaving immediately, he lingered in the doorway for a moment. There were a couple others there too, in the same clothes and also carrying flashlights, but instead of calling out to any of them, he simply watched. Nobody seemed to be moving together, but they all went in the same direction, with a sense purpose that he lacked. Unlike him, it seemed like they had some idea of where they were going.

With the hall now empty, and lacking any other leads, he decided the best thing he could do for now was silently trail after them and see where it lead him.

[to here]

[kings_thief]

[From here]


His hand still wrapped around Totlten's, the treasure hunter led them into the next hall. It was amazing the effect the other man had on him, he still felt tired and sick and it seemed incredibly hard to concentrate on anything linearly, but it was almost like it didn't matter. Not while they were together and had a mission.

"Alright, which room do we need?"