NIGHT 64: MAIN HALLWAY, 1-EAST

[envy_the_sinners]

_{[From here]}

Scar continued through to the easternmost end of the hallway, finally reaching the door to the medical wing. Grumbling at the damn thing being locked, the Ishbalan bashed it a few times with his flashlight until it broke, and he pushed open the door somewhat cautiously.

_{[To here]}

Comments

[fallenbeanpole]

It wasn't like the Once-ler had never seen blood smears before. A large, heavily mechanical factory tended by hundreds of workers was bound to see some accidents. Thankfully no one had ever died, and the incidents could be counted on one hand. Besides, he'd had some of the finest lawyers money could buy, which kept things from getting out of control.

He hadn't liked inspecting the aftermath, but it was part of his job, and he'd gotten through it fairly easily.

This was different. He'd never seen so much blood in one place, and the scent hit him like a truck. He swallowed sharply, going slightly pale. "Is that normal?" he asked softly. "The blood, I mean."

Perhaps Soma was right about the monsters. It still seemed absurd, but.... The Once-ler shook his head. "Let's go."

He preferred to leave the scene behind as quickly as possible.

[madeinthehrl]

"More normal than it should be," she returned flatly.

At least he wasn't panicking at the sight of blood. She hadn't been sure how prepared he'd be; he didn't seem like much of a fighter to her. Still, to drag someone new into a hallway where some unknown creature might be lurking...

"Whatever caused that is probably still in there," she said, turning to him. "Before we go in, I need to know how used you are to fighting, and if you have any abilities that might come in handy if worse comes to worst."

[fallenbeanpole]

The Once-ler nodded grimly. His younger self would have panicked at the sight, but after causing so much destruction himself, it just didn't have the same effect. Not to say he wasn't disturbed; seeing desolation every day for a year had simply jaded him to horrific (in his mind) sights.

He hesitated before answering Soma. "Fighting? Er... well, I have a pair of twin brothers who enjoyed tag teaming me when we were kids," he offered lamely. He paused, then, somewhat more quietly, added, "I'm also pretty handy with a wood axe."

[madeinthehrl]

For once, Soma was grateful her emotions didn't tend to show on her face. She managed not to look dubious as she nodded. If she were perfectly honest with herself, the Once-ler was probably safer running full tilt back to his room than going inside with her.

"If you want to come with me, you should probably take this," she said, pulling the katana free from a bedsheet loop and offering it to him hilt first. "It isn't a wood axe, but it's better than nothing. It belonged to one of my friends, so don't lose it."

And then all that was left to do was pull her handgun free from her belt, switch off the safety, and head inside.

[madeinthehrl]

[to here]