Night 66: West Wing, South Hall 1-A

[dualistic]

[From here.]

This was a trip that had gotten old ages ago, and so Harvey tried to make it as short as possible by falling into a brisk walk. He didn't go so far as to jog, since he didn't need to tire himself out before the action even started, but it was a good idea to save time where he could.

All of that was made very easy by the fact that there weren't any other patients around. He didn't know if it was because they were busy going through a painful transformation into some deadly monster, but if that was it, then he also wanted to get to a more open area sooner rather than later.

Harvey reached the end of the hall and rounded the corner into the main hall.

[To here.]

Comments

[dividedby]

[From here.]

Next hallway. Nothing out of the ordinary to see here, either. However, Zero couldn't help but start to question why there still seemed to be few people around. Usually there were at least some little groups that formed here, or prisoners that were hurrying along to the bigger hallways... Had he really been that fast getting out of his room this time? Or was something else happening?

All the more reason to keep up the swift pace. He had to find his friends before trouble found them first...

[To here.]

[envy_the_sinners]

[From here]

Scar stepped warily into the larger hallway. He honestly was unsure where M42 was, but he could only imagine it was deeper into the building. He turned left, rather than right as he always did. It couldn't take him too long to fine Frank's room. There were only so many patients, here.

He stopped at the end of the hallway, turning around to take one last look down at the junction of the main hallway. What he was looking for, he wasn't entirely sure. He hadn't heard anything.

Grumbling to himself, Scar made his way into the lesser-known areas of the institute.

[To here]

[unpriest]

[From here]

The route was a familiar one by now, and Seishin knew he was close the main hall. Not too many people seemed to have exited their rooms by now, but in light of recent events he supposed that wasn't very surprising.

It wasn't long before the former priest reached the end of the hallway.

[To here]

[thisisyourgod]

> ==>

Was the girl the one who was going to be deeply offended by his language, or was that all Ishida? Maybe cursing was some big deal wherever they came from, and he was literally offending his people on some deeper level. That would suck kind of hard, but somehow he didn't really think that was the case.

He was pretty close to the sun room already. At least the walk wasn't long.

> ==>

[sixth_attack]

[From here.]

With his flashlight Sechs could see the door to the next patient cell area up ahead. He didn't think he had been to this area before. It would be structured the same way as the area he came from, just with different numbers. Nonetheless, entering this new territory got the Replica's instincts on high alert. There was no telling what he could find here. The last thing he needed was to encounter a patient-turned monster -- then again, what was the difference between a transformed patient and a regular monster anyways?

...Dammit. This kind of stuff made his brain hurt.

[To here.]

[longlivetheking]

[From here]

Scar quietly slipped into the next hallway, keeping the portable light switched off as to avoid any unwanted attention. The area was empty, and though it was a good thing nothing came stampeding through the hallway it left the possibilities of finding a meat shield rather bleak...

Normally, he would have gone down the main hallway, but with the current circumstances doing so alone appeared to be even riskier. So was staying here for that matter; or anywhere it seemed. If only the head doctor hadn't decided to inconvenience the former lion so by making him share a room with someone infected...

His green eyes narrowed in frustration. Still, he needed to keep moving...

[Murphy]

[faeth]

[ from here. ]

She was starting to really hate hallways. Her walk turned brisk turned slow turned stumble, but she caught herself against the wall as she heaved a small gasp, clutching the flashlight to her chest lest she drop it. It was emptier here – her eyes were adjusting (finally) to the darkness of the hallway, and there was a door, but…

Orihime had some semblance of where she was going. Lloyd-san’s room number, M44 would be further up if her calculated guesstimates were right… Double-checking every single hallway would waste more time, and her gut feeling told her she was right from the very beginning, so why question it. Right?

Ayame, Shun’o--

Still no clear answer. There was ringing, a sharp buzzing that seemed to crop up from the silence and the voices from the hallway she had just left, but nothing else.

[ to here. ]

[impudentsongbird]

[from here.]

This was the longest hallway yet--the longest and the most crowded. Gabe didn't even need his torch on, with the lights of so many others; he clicked it off to conserve the battery. The Archangel kept near the wall, and it wasn't until he was almost to the intersection that he realised he'd been viewing those he passed with suspicion.

With fear. Half expecting them to be infected, to be dangerous.

Chills ran down Gabriel's spine and he stopped just past the doorway into Castiel's block, swallowing hard. Already prepared to turn on other patients, to view them as the enemy? No.

The Archangel pressed a hand to the cross under his shirt, leaning back against the wall and taking a deep breath to murmur a prayer. He would not, he promised, he would not start viewing his fellow prisoners as foes. Not unless they willingly and knowingly gave him reason to distrust them. But for this, this brainwashing? No.

For several moments Gabe remained there, taking the time to centre himself and pray.

[Riley.]

[stop_the_rain]

[from here]

Another hallway. Murphy sighed and set down the chair he was holding, needing to get his bearings. He'd been this way before, but damn it, all the hallways mostly looked the same.

The ex-con ran a hand through his shaggy hair and sighed audibly. This was not a great method, really, just wandering out and hoping he could find someone that needed a pair of fists willing to walk in front of them. He could hear movement, and peered through the darkness. He knew he wasn't alone, his eyes just couldn't make out more than dar shapes - unless whatever he was looking at was right in front of him.

He needed a new flashlight.

"Hello?" he called. "Olly olly oxenfree?"

[longlivetheking]

It wasn't long before Scar heard the sound of footsteps coming down the hallway. He narrowed his eyes and peered into the direction of the sounds, noticing someone approaching. The form paused, and there was an audible sigh.

As the former lion observed the man carefully, it would seem his presence had been noticed. That wouldn't have been so impressive if Scar hadn't known those bald monkeys were barely able to see in the dark - most of them, anyway. This one did not appear to carry a portable light, however.

Be as it may, this one did not appear to be an immediate threat. Scar was hardly one to miss an opportunity when it presented itself so conveniently...

"Right here," came the response, "I was beginning to think I was never going to run into anyone."

[ninelivesonce]

[from here]

There were two men moving in the darkness, and Taura tensed up. She, too, was making her way through without a light, but she could see better than most humans, even now that she was one.

No. She'd always been one. Now that she looked like one.

One of them spoke, in a soft sing-song. Then the other responded, and she stopped in her tracks, though, if luck was on her side, without making a sound. If they could see each other, though, they could probably see at least her golden eyes, looking at them in the darkness. That was Scar, von Karma's friend. It had to be, even if she couldn't make out his features -- that sigh was unmistakable. He didn't even need to add on a deliberately lazy comment to be recognized.

She should stop -- but he wasn't ill, and she doubted the other man was. Voice and posture and smell weren't a guarantee, but she'd always been perceptive, and they were fine. She gave Scar a firm nod, in case he'd spotted her, and then turned decisively back towards the main hall.

[to here]

[stop_the_rain]

Okay, confirmation on the vague presence being human. Great. That was one point in the 'good' column right there.

"Oh, hey," Murphy called in the direction of the voice. "Sorry I...I can't really see..." Not that this was new. It was alarming how used to scrambling about in the dark while on the lookout for monsters he'd become. "I lost my flashlight. Monster."

He took a few steps closer, peering through the near black. Maybe he was off to a good start tonight!

"You need a hand?" he asked. "I'm armed..."

[longlivetheking]

As the man searched for his presence, Scar noticed another person pass by, pausing once he had opened his mouth. Green eyes watched the person for a moment. That was... Taura, wasn't it? Hnn, she was probably surprised to find him here after all that time. She had nodded before disappearing, but the only acknowledgment the former lion offered her was a glance. She was clearly off to something else, and he did not particularly feel like tagging along as if he was a lost cub.

Speaking of which, he returned his attention to the stranger. Lost his flashlight? Hnn, Scar had to wonder how this man hadn't run into any walls just yet if he was truly so incapable of seeing anything. Nonetheless, the former lion switched on his light, because doing otherwise was doubtlessly counterproductive.

"That would be rather convenient. I was looking for someone willing to accompany me, after all." That left a destination to decide upon, however. The ordeal with his infected roommate had distracted him enough from making any concrete plans for the night, so a vague direction would have to do. Not that he was going to tell this man that, however. "I don't suppose you've ever been beyond the walls?"

Exploring seemed a far better option than staying here and become potential monster bait, in any case.

[faeth]

[ from here. ]

Dork, he had called her back there, and although she had flustered and puffed out a cheek in response, it was more or less refreshing, how easily familiarity came to him. It made her comfortable at least, more than relieved to have company as they traversed down each dark hallway. It was quiet, the air filled with nothing more than the shuffle of their steps, a static hum and the sound of their breathing, and it would have been more disconcerting had she paid her surroundings more attention.

But she was focused. Lloyd-san had made no outward reaction to her powers, but -- well... either he didn't see her Souten Kisshun, or he was simply used to more strange, more alien things. She didn't think to ask. All she knew was that the healing was taking a very long time; a minute or two had already passed, and she had only taken care of his more peripheral scratches, barely making progress on the deeper, more serious gashes on his chest and arm.

It was going to take a while.

Might as well continue a conversation. "I was surprised, actually." Orihime said, declared rather, in a moderately toned, even voice. "On the way over to your room, I kinda... guessed at the hallways. Of course, Ishida-kun was trying to help me get a feel for the place during the day, but-"

Ishida-kun. Again, she thought. Lloyd's injuries were healing so slow, and although she wasn't tired (a little sleepy, perhaps, but that was normal, right), it was still rather daunting to be so limited here, especially when she'd once restored an entire arm within a matter of seconds.

"...Anyway, I arrived last night, so I don't really know my way around, either. I found the bathroom... sorta. Which would have been helpful if I actually needed it... But ah, could you imagine it? What if someone woke up and really needed to go, and they couldn't even find their way around?"

It didn't occur to her that her vision was starting to sway at the edges as they continued to walk -- it was too dark to tell, after all, and it wasn't all that necessary to pay attention to seeing when the next hallway was just ahead. "I think that might be scarier than finding a monster, actually," She tacked on as they edged near the end of the corridor.

"Not being able to find the bathroom, I mean."

[redcladidealist]

"That would be pretty bad," Lloyd conceded with a laugh. "I didn't even see any chamber pots in my room. What do they expect us to do?" In the back of his mind, he made a mental note to memorize the locations of any bathrooms he found. It was funny to discuss it in lighthearted conversation, but it wouldn't be so funny if he found himself stuck in a situation just like that.

As the healing sensation crept deeper into his skin, it was hard to resist trying to flex his hand. Inoue's method of healing wasn't anywhere near as fast as he was used to. It felt weird to be able to feel his flesh knitting itself back together, instead of having it heal so fast he barely had time to register what it was doing. It already felt better, though, so that was something, at least.

As they drew close to the end of the hall, he swung his flashlight from left to right, scanning the hall both ways. He thought he could make out figures in both directions, but nothing very distinct. Probably just other patients, but his steps still turned cautious as he guided Inoue to turn left.

[To here.]

[somesoulsearching]

[collapsing in from here]

If any others were around they would have been treated to the strange sight of an afro'd giant crashing out of the A Block doorway in a mess of lanky limbs without so much as a cry of protest.

The man wasn't able to control any part of the graceless fall to the ground or how he remained sprawled on the decaying tile following the collapse. Every part of him had gone numb by that point, lips included, leaving him unable to hum let alone say a word. Trying to think enough to get a word was failing him as well as even his brain was feeling numb.

The only thing he had to rely on were his eyes, and just one of those was free to see - the other shut closed against the tile flooring. In the darkness, Brook could just make out one of his hands as it had fallen into his line of view, only it didn't look like his hand. As he'd feared earlier, the stitches had returned. He could see how two sets snaked around dry flesh, keeping a part of his thumb and the last two digits of his right hand from falling off.

He could see it, but he couldn't do a thing about it.

Fear wasn't was caught his last thoughts, nor was panic the prevailing emotion. All of Brook's usual tendencies, what responses he would have and should have given to understanding, or else freaking out about what was happening to him, those never came. Instead the last thing that crossed his mind was a word, a name that he knew, no matter what, he couldn't give up:

Laboon

[sixth_attack]

[From here.]

Turning the corner into the next corridor, Sechs gestured to Link towards the northern end of the hallway and continued his run in that direction. "The best way outside from here is down this hall to the rec field!" he called amongst the loud thundering of his boots. "Can't say it's the safest though, but it should be a hell lot less risky than to take the longer way to the courtyard!"

[lovesthepain]

[From here]

Harpuia stayed silent as the three of them headed out, dividing his attention between the two in front of him and the hallway behind them. It didn't seem likely to get caught off-guard in a high-traffic area like this, but he didn't intend to be taken by surprise two nights in a row.

Besides, there was certainly no shortage of things to think about -- not just the big picture of the Institute or the sickness going around, but smaller things. That eye-searingly pink coat of Zero's, for instance: he'd never seen Zero wear anything like it, so why was he in it now? Harpuia was by no means a dull-witted guy. As distracting as the pink was, he'd noticed the emblem the sleeves bore: the Resistance logo.

A pink women's jacket belonging to a Resistance member -- a human one, since a reploid would have no need for protection from the cold. He opened his mouth, as if suddenly struck with the urge to speak up, but reconsidered. There was no need to rub salt in what must surely have been a wound.

[his_legacy]

"I'm sure we can handle it." Link honestly had no idea if Sechs could handle whatever atrocity could be waiting for them outside, given his illness. He carried himself like a fighter, but the Hylian couldn't be sure just how the strange sickness was affecting his companion.

[To here]

[stop_the_rain]

"No," Murphy admitted, not making any particular note of the fact that they were being eyed briefly. At least he could see now! "I tried the other night, but it didn't go well. There was a...I don't know. Giant robot cat or something, couldn't get to the walls. But I'm ready to make another go for it."

To see what lay beyond...man...that'd be nice. To feel maybe like he was somewhere open. Hell, maybe even find or do something useful out there! He couldn't say he felt imbued with holy energy or anything like that, but the ex-con was at least in a better headspace right now.

"I'm Murphy," he offered, figuring he should exchange names with the guy he was going to be looking out for tonight.

[earthling]

((From here, timeskipping around Brook.))

There were a few groups of patients hanging around here, though Claude was relieved to note that they hadn't walked right into another attack. That bulletin message about the infected patient who had been killed still lingered in the back of Claude's mind. It was awful. He hoped there wouldn't be anymore casualties.

"What about you?" Claude finally asked. Although he was genuinely interested to hear how his friend was, part of him knew he also needed to keep himself from focusing on something so dark.

[nobleman]

It wasn't so bad, Claude said. That wasn't exactly a detailed response, but Guy couldn't blame him that much. The days didn't matter nearly as much as the nights, and while that was a general statement, it was even more true now, when all Guy could focus on was how to cure Claude and Anise. That was the sort of stuff they could only really tackle at night.

When the question was turned around on him, Guy paused for a moment to think it over. He hadn't done much beyond investigating a cure, except--

"Oh, I met your roommate, Lloyd. Did he tell you?" That was the most significant thing that had happened as far as Claude was concerned, anyway.

As he awaited Claude's response, Guy turned the corner.

[To here.]

[somesoulsearching]

[going here after some of the Institute's "helping hands"... mmmmm brains...]

[ryuuzaki]

[From here.]

Patients were already out and moving around. He and Lana and Nina would need to move as fast as they could manage, if they wanted to reach their destination and have a good chance of accomplishing anything. He made his way through the halls as quickly as he could, given his condition, ignoring the ache and the fussy, overheated feeling that came with a fever.

The idea that he might achieve something tonight, that the whole thing could end for him soon in a way that might feel like victory, was a motivating factor, one that made it easier to keep going when all he wanted to do was stay in bed. At the same time, he understood how terribly vulnerable they all were. He could change, or die, or be killed in the way that was usual at Landel's, or in the way that had become new. Or he might be forced to kill Lana, although if it came to that, he would prefer to remove himself and Nina from the situation and leave Lana to her own devices.

Still, pushing past his discomfort tonight would most likely result in a dramatic reduction in his vulnerability in the near future.

It wasn't long before he was able to round the corner into the wider corridor where they'd met the night before.

[To here.]

[nobleman]

[From here.]

Guy felt odd leading the group toward the field, because it wasn't supposed to be his position. He even slowed slightly so that Luke could keep pace with him, glancing over at his friend with a reassuring smile. This was scary for both of them, since they'd both be required to figure out what to do if Claude or Anise ever changed.

Wanting to break the silence before it got too heavy, Guy glanced back at Anise. "You said you were going to try to talk to that other patient... Barnaby, right? Were you able to get a hold of him?"

Guy wanted to know what she'd found out, if anything. Anise probably would have mentioned anything important already, but it was still worth asking, if only to give them something to talk about.