Night 64: Main Hallway, 1-West

[dualistic]

[From here.]

Well, that had been painless, but the good time he'd made also meant that he was the first to arrive. Harvey leaned himself up against the wall, swinging his metal pipe around in his hand as he kept an eye out for Scott or Sangamon.

He had to admit, it was strange that their group had been cut down so considerably. He didn't even know if Depth Charge was still around, but it didn't matter to him too much either way, so he hadn't put much thought into it. He figured that one of the others would mention it when they showed up, if they even knew themselves.

While he waited, Harvey grabbed the bone bracelet out of his pocket and started to spin it around in his hand. The skeleton hadn't been too clear about how this worked, but there was an obvious answer about what to do with it, not that he was going to attempt anything until the others had shown up.

Comments

[unpriest]

[From here]

Seishin walked into the main hallway before long, his mind wandering so that he almost missed the few other people who were doubtlessly waiting for others. How many of them were headed for the medical wing, chasing down that glimmer of hope? Hadn't Landel-san mentioned some patients were going to change tonight?

The former priest had made no arrangements with others, but he paused nonetheless in his hesitation, his flashlight failing to illuminate the other side of the corridor.

(The Scarecrow)

[scarefaux]

[From here.]

Things only got worse as the Scarecrow continued on, his body fighting against him the whole way. He felt like he had been running all day, limbs fatigued in a way he'd never felt in his former body simply because he was incapable of it, having been made of straw and clothes. Another cough escaped him, rattling his entire chest. Maybe looking into what had been mentioned on the intercom wouldn't be a bad idea, he thought for a moment. Then again, it might have been another trick from Wizard Landel. He had to be on his guard, be careful. Depth Charge had taught him that much.

With his hands shaking by the time he reached the main hallway, the Scarecrow was forced to slow his pace, fumbling with his flashlight as he attempted to turn it on. It slipped from his fingers as it had so many times before; this time was different as it took him a few seconds to kneel to pick it up.

[unpriest]

At the sound of a flashlight clattering on the floor, Seishin turned. The beam of his own flashlight revealed a familiar face, beginning to kneel in order to pick up the discarded flashlight.

He hadn't seen the man in a while, had he? Not since the incident with the large, birdlike monsters. Thankfully the night had ended before the situation could get ouf of hand.

"Westerning-san?" he called out as he approached, "Are you alright?"

[scarefaux]

It took a moment for the Scarecrow to recognize his pseudonym, and another to figure out what direction the voice was coming from. He spotted someone approaching and backed up on some impulse he couldn't discern in his sickness; he got a better look at the figure and stopped, recognizing Seishin.

"Oh, M- Muroi." He nodded his head weakly in greeting, getting back to his feet with his flashlight in tow. He wiped at his brow reflexively, unaware of the cold sweat that had formed there. "I'm fine. Really, I am."

And just to show how fine he was, he broke into a coughing fit that forced him to lean on the wall in order to stay on his feet.

[unpriest]

He couldn't entirely blame the man, however.

"I'm afraid you're not very convincing..." Seishin said quietly, a worried frown appearing on his features. It was obvious what was wrong with the man: coughing, weakness...Westerning-san was most likely infected, which meant--

"...Were you headed for the X-Ray room, perhaps?" he asked as he looked back at Westerning-san, leaving the implications of what the former priest had figured out in the air. Westerning-san didn't need to be reminded of it, he was sure.

[scarefaux]

The Scarecrow's gaze hit the floor, knowing Seishin could tell what was wrong. He was human, the Scarecrow thought- surely he could recognize sickness in a way the former strawman couldn't simply because he hadn't the experience yet.

He coughed again, wrapping an arm around his chest protectively as he nodded. "I don't know exactly what's wrong, but I know I have to do something about it. Heading there is the only clue I have."

[unpriest]

"I'm sorry..." Seishin offered, but his words would offer little consolation. He averted his own gaze for a bit, and despite his outer calm he could feel a wave of hatred rising up inside of him. To the head doctor, they were but pawns he could abuse however he liked, toys bended and pulled until they were smashed and broken. His eyes narrowed slightly, but it was the only outward sign of his inner darkness. Feelings of resentment and hatred were always hidden behind a carefully trained mask, after all.

"It might be a trap," the former priest said, "And even if it is not, I'm sure it will be dangerous. However, the alternative..." He trailed off at that, certain that the other man knew of its possible outcome. The X-Ray room would surely be dangerous, but it was perhaps the only hope for those who were infected. Westerning-san hardly looked well, however...

"It's not wise to go alone in your current condition. I might not be able to do much, but would you mind if I would accompany you?"

[scarefaux]

"I'd like that very much," the Scarecrow replied, voice weaker from all the hacking he'd been doing. "I know it might be a trap, but I'm not sure what else I can do. I'll be no good to anyone if I stay like this."

It was unfortunate that while the Scarecrow was aware of the dark alternative of leaving the infection to have its way with his human form, he hadn't really considered the consequences in full. He'd thought if he became a monster like the nurses that he'd be locked away somewhere- surely they didn't just let them wander the Institute, or he'd have seen more of them other than at night, when they roamed the hallways with the witches and—

Alarm hit him all at once, appearing on his face as fear took over the rest of his body. "Oh, but maybe you shouldn't," he said, changing his mind as he shook his head. "What if- what if I become a monster? Oh, that'd be just terrible!"

[unpriest]

Landel-san had mentioned some of the patients were going to change tonight. Would Westerning-san be one of them? Of course, the possibility had occurred to the novelist even before the other man had brought it up. But unsurprisingly, self-preservation had never been among Seishin's characteristics, therefore, his own well-being had never been taken into consideration.

The events from last afternoon probably hadn't helped much. If Sunako was...he still wasn't certain what to think of his visitor. Something hadn't seemed right with 'Toshio' back then, but he couldn't quite place his finger on it. Still, he would be lying if it hadn't affected him in some manner. How very typical of his former friend...

"I'm sure there will be time to take action when that happens," Seishin reassured, "If anything, I could make sure you won't attack anyone else." He wasn't fully certain how he would go about that -- he guessed he could always try and lock Westerning-san in an empty room. But the transformation... it could be instantaneous for all he knew. Nonetheless, the reassuring smile on his face came easily.