damned_institute | NIGHTSHIFT 42: BLACK ROCK HOTEL

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NIGHTSHIFT 42: BLACK ROCK HOTEL

Snake jerked his head away from Fox's hand and shot to his feet, disorientated slightly by the sudden shift. The grout in the tiles was black with what looked like old blood, and the stench of rot heaved in his throat. Something was badly wrong. He sensed threats - left, faint shapes in the dark outside the large windows - Fox - something creaking in the ceiling - a long groaning voice off to the right, past the walls - and something moving in the back of the room -

It staggered towards him, and before he fully knew what he was doing he ripped the match from the book and struck it with his left hand alone, popped the cap off the hairspray, and blasted a tongue of flame at the aggressor, aiming for its face. He saw, in the flickering light, long hair and long nails and the skin on its rotten face peeling and cracking and bubbling in the heat. It gave a long, screaming cry, and toppled to the floor. Its arms and legs writhed and kicked furiously, an automatic, animal gesture, before it finally lay still.

"Here?" he snapped at Fox, wrapping his fingers around the can of hairspray. "This place gets better and better. It's like a theme park." His voice quaked with anger. The place now stunk of something far worse than rotten meat, and for a fraction of a second he thought he could hear Big Boss's voice saying something he couldn't make out before he realised that it had come from inside his own head.

"At least I don't have to be the only thing here back from the dead," he growled. The woman zombie was leaking something he didn't want to think about. He guessed that the decomposition must have trapped methane and other flammable gasses inside the body, hence why it went up like a candle.

That said, he didn't really think he could burn anything else again. For a while.

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Ritsuka was pulled away from her violently, and while Miku could understand why Soubi had done so, it still felt rude. Awkward. Unfair. Miku suddenly wanted to crawl inside herself and hide. Hide anywhere. The bar was a good idea, but...

...Who was she kidding? She couldn't even make her body move properly right now. Her heart continued to hammer in her chest, and she backed herself into the corner behind them, breathing unevenly. Maybe things would be better if she passed out from hyperventilation, the thought came wildly. Anything would be better than being eaten, or watching her friends be eaten. What the others were saying barely registered, and Miku's eyes settled helplessly on the back of Sousuke's head.

Soubi looked to Sousuke and Sheena, only when they spoke, expression unreadable. He didn't like this place as a hideout, but going outside could be worse. If there was a working elevator, they could jam it just above the ground floor, but if things went wrong, it meant being trapped.

"Is there an elevator or attic?"

Having Ritsuka in his arms was calming (to a point). He held the boy close and listened to him. It as one of the rare orders. "I understand," he nodded. He reached out and pulled Miku closer. Kio had...crossed his mind. Once he found Rituska. He couldn't deny that he was worried, but there was little he could do until Ritsuka was safe.

"It's too dangerous," Sousuke replied, letting Sheena take care of the individual zombies that came from the front. One approached from the side and he swiftly brained it with the sharp end of the poker. "This building is in disrepair, the elevators, if they worked, wouldn't be reliable. If an emergency escape were necessary, jumping from the top floor of a building wouldn't be feasible."

It was true that the higher up they went, the more time they would have to be safe. However, escape routes were the first things Sousuke took into consideration when so much as entering a room.

"We should find a room with a window on the second or third story," Sousuke said, moving back to place a reassuring hand on Miku's back. "When we are unable to defend it, we can escape through the window."

A roundhouse kick to the head sent a zombie flying back where it twitched on the floor.

"Yeah, that sounds like a plan," Sheena replied. As she shifted position, allowing the couch to block the zombies from her side, the ninja was starting to feel the fear of the creatures crop back up again. It wasn't going to paralyze her by any means, but it made her think of all sorts of possibilities.

Raine. She was probably with Reinforce and, as much as the ninja was scared of Reinforce, Raine trusted her. Besides, Raine was smart and had her magic. Yukari... Yukari. What was the youkai's status?

Sheena had no idea where Yukari might be, not having seen her all day, and that started to worry her. THe youkai said she was no stranger to violence, but if Sheena was having as much trouble with the zombies as she was, what trouble was the youkai in? Sheena needed to find her. Once Ritsuka and Miku were safe.

"Did you see Yukari anywhere, Soubi?"

Second or third story room - if all else, they jumped. It sounded safe enough, but it sure as hell was crazy. The entire night was crazy. The fact that he was still in Soubi's arms, trying his damnedest not to shake like a leaf was crazy. The sound of the zombies filtered in through the hoodie covering his head and Ritsuka put his hands to his ears, squeezing his eyes shut. He couldn't think with all this noise going on and he needed to think right now.

He'd never been in this place before, so he had no idea what rooms were secure and which weren't. He did, however, know that the longer they stayed here in the lobby, the more of those things they were going to attract. Move upstairs - there had to be a second set separate from the ones the zombies were blocking. A maintanence corridor, emergency exit stairwell, something. There was never just one staircase, right? Finally working up the nerve to pull his head from Soubi's hoodie, he took quick stock of the area and then spotted them. As with most places, they had the central staircase and then there was the emergency one. "Second staircase to the right! I don't see anything coming out of it."

Miku watched the movement all around them with wide, wet eyes. Though she heard them, her brain responded slowly, dumbly. She would need to follow them when they ran, and Soubi's arm on her calmed her enough for that. At least, she was sure of it.

Still, she only stared at Sousuke.

Soubi wasn't a fan of half baked plans that needed escape routes but...if nothing here was garunteed, he had no choice. He released Miku but refused to let go of Ritsuka while he reached back to get another weapon from the fire set. He didn't have enough hands for this.

Ritsuka was wrapped up in an attempt to stop Zombies getting to him, but it was going to make things tough on the kid if he had to run about on his own. Besides...he was shaking. Soubi readjusted Ritsuka on his hip and tried to hold out the hand that was half holding him. "Miku," he said softly, hoping she'd hold it. He couldn't watch her well, but he wanted a weapon and the other two would help.

Unable to hide his confusion at Sheena's question, he looked at her and frowned. He'd barely looked out for Kio, let alone Sheena's friends.

"I'm sorry," he said, shaking his head.

he started moving to the stairwell automatically, having taken it as an order, but caught himself and hesitated, looking at Sheena and Sousuke, waiting for them to help protect the other two.

[Skipping Sousuke per Serey's hiatus and moving us along quickly. If too quickly, let me know.]

"Damnit all," Sheena swore under her breath when Soubi didn't have even a hint as to where the youkai might be. "Idiot youkai's probably gotten herself into trouble," she groused, turning to let out a bit of her frustration (and fear) concerning Yukari on a nearby zombie, slamming her fist hard into it's face. The creature fell back where it met it's end by fireplace shovel.

Ritsuka pointed out the service stairs, thankfully zombie-free for the moment, and the ninja took off after it. "Cover the rear," she told Sousuke as she dashed up the stairs.

She stopped at the landing to the second floor and eased the door open. A quick glance down the hall showed there were far too many zombies in that hallway. They'd have to get through at least six on the way to the nearest room. "Up one more," she called back, keeping her voice low as she quietly closed the door, trying not to alert the creatures on the other side to their presence.

On the third floor, they had better luck; only two zombies were visible in this hallway. Sheena assumed that was because most of the zombies had made their way down stairs already. She was only half-listening to the plan Sousuke set out to take care of those two zombies, as her mind was already racing in an attempt to figure out where her youkai could possibly be. nodding, she charged the hallway and launched a few kicks at the two zombie. One hit the ground where Sousuke finished it off and the other got a bony hand up to grab onto the ninja's arm, sharp edges of broken bone digging into her skin to draw blood. With a hiss, she round-housed the zombie, stunning it as hit the wall where it fell beneath Sousuke's strike.

Sheena looked down at her bleeding arm, thing long cuts in it from the bone, and shuddered. Her skin crawled, feeling the zombie's hand still on her, and she swallowed hard before looking away from the wound. "Okay... I'm okay," she said, more to herself than anyone else. "Let's try that room," she said, with a nod at a door.

He should have been able to walk on his own. He should have been able to tell Soubi to put him down and let him move under his own steam. He should have been stronger than this, but the smell of burnt flesh and the unearthly moans were things he didn't know how to deal with. He'd seen one dead body too many before coming here, and since arriving, had generally managed to avoid it. Until tonight. They were everywhere and Ritsuka couldn't help but fear that this was what happened to Seimei when he disappeared from the Institute. Or Alfons. Or anyone who had recently gone missing. What if they all turned out like this?

What if Ritsuka had to order Soubi to kill just to keep everyone alive? Could he do that? Sheena and Sousuke didn't seem to have any problems with dispatching the creatures, but Soubi was different. Or was he? He certainly seemed like it. Ritsuka believed he was.

The hall went quiet and Ritsuka closed his eyes. He could think now, without the noises and the smells and the constant danger. Sheena needed to go find Yukari, Sousuke wanted to find weapons, that left Soubi guarding Ritsuka and Miku and he couldn't do that if Ritsuka was clinging to him all night. "...put me down." He had to learn to walk on his own. He couldn't keep looking away from what was unpleasant if he was ever going to give Soubi real orders that night. And if there was anything in the other room, Soubi would need his arms free.

The moment that they were able to stop for a minute, Miku moved beside Sousuke, her trembling fingers on his coat. She didn't want him to leave her, didn't want him to go away and look for weaponry and possibly not come back. It was always a bad idea to split up in scary movies, wasn't it?

"Please don't leave me," it wasn't an order; it was a request.

[Skipping Miku until Serey is dehiatused]

Soubi followed. He didn't have to worry too much, any attack would have to go through Sheena or Sousuke first. He'd have a fair warning before he had to put Ritsuka down and attack anything. He had no real problem with the thought of attacking one of these things. They were a danger to Ritsuka, nothing else mattered.

He hesitated when Ritsuka spoke, but obeyed. Nudging the door open, he took a look around. Would light attract zombies? It might attract other patients....

"Wait here," he said, softly, going inside. Ritsuka was safe with the others for a moment while Soubi went around, hitting furniture with the poker to see if he could draw anything out. Nothing came.

"Alright, it seems safe." He opened the door and moved aside. "Sheena. We should have a look at your arm." Hopefully she wasn't going to zombie up....

Sheena double-checked the room for her own piece of mind, not that she didn't trust Soubi. She just needed to know she was leaving Ritsuka and Miku in a place that was as safe as it could be in this zombie-crawling town. Satisfied, she pulled a single regular playing card out and wedged it in the corner of the window frame so it would hopefully be visible below before pulling the curtains closed.

"I'm okay," she said, now that she'd calmed down some, looking down at her arm. The blood was slowing welling up and the cuts weren't deep. She didn't really have the time to get it properly bound, though she did tear off a bit of the curtains aqnd applied pressure to the wound.

Turning back, she met Soubi's eyes. "I have to go; I have to find her," Sheena said. "I don't know where she is, but I have to find her." If there was still a question as to whether Sheena had made up her mind concerning the youkai, it had just been answered.

"Barricade the door behind me. When I find her, we'll come back here and we'll use the window." Three stories was nothing for a ninja. Sheena could have Yukari clinging to her back and she's still be able to scale three stories easily, even with the arm injury.

Kneeling down by Ritsuka, Sheena rubbed his shoulder. "I'm not going to become zombie food. I'll be okay. Stay where it's safe Ritsuka."

The ninja stood back up and looked at Miku. "You too. Stay safe." She bit her bottom lip, for a moment conflicted about leaving. It was only a moment, though. She needed to find her youkai.

"I need to find her," she said again just before dashing out the door and down the hallway, toward the stairs. She really hoped finding the youkai was not going to be like finding that stupid needle in a haystack. One youkai in a town crawling with zombies? Great plan, Sheena. Still, she ran for the stairs.

[to here] (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/676744.html?thread=55680648#t55680648)

"SHEENA!" Sousuke called, though he suspected she didn't hear him over the noise, since she made no move to turn around. Just-- Sousuke couldn't worry about that now. She made her own choice, he wasn't her commanding officer.

The sergeant shut the door and flipped the lock decisively. He looked around the room, quickly deciding what furniture would be useful.

"Agatsuma," he said, moving over to the single bed in the room. "Help me move this against the door. Miku, Ritsuka, see if you can move one of the tables or bedside tables over here."

The more furniture between the door and them, the safer he would feel. Though he didn't trust Soubi to be able to carry both Miku and Ritsuka to safety by himself. He'd have to make do with the poker for now.

"If anyone hears anything at all, relay it to the rest of the group immediately."

Soubi moved into the room and secured it for them. Ritsuka could hear him banging the furniture just to be sure, which might have attracted things or might not have. Right now, the important thing was to secure the location and then get Miku inside. Sousuke would protect her though, right? And with Soubi and Sheena here, there was--

"You can't!" There was a hand on his shoulder and a moment where she promised to be safe, but then she was gone. Sheena ran down the hall and Ritsuka turned to go after her, to drag her dumb impulsive self back here, but Sousuke locked the door and Ritsuka slammed a fist against it, cursing under his breath. He knew why she left and he understood her reasons, but it was still stupid! Sousuke moved away to the bed and Ritsuka felt like grabbing the lock and going after her, but he knew if he went, Soubi would go and that would leave Miku and Sousuke on their own. There was no guarantee that he'd be able to catch up to her either, and so, with a final angry punch at the door, he moved away.

Was this what the night was supposed to teach them? How powerless they were? Going over to the round writing table, Ritsuka grabbed a side of it and gripped the edge hard. His arms hurt, his throat was still raw from earlier, but he had to do something. Even if it meant holing up in here and hoping that those things didn't find them. "...Miku, help me move this."

Miku nodded dumbly and did as she was told, though she wasn't very good at lifting, well, anything. Still, she managed to help Ritsuka move it and stood back, her hands covering her heart. She knew she needed to get a hold of herself, somehow, but she could only feel her head throb in reply.

Something bad is going to happen. As if it already hadn't. What could be worse than this? Miku wasn't sure if she wanted to know. Zombies and ghosts?

The photographer dropped her hand into her pocket and squeezed her camera tightly, as if assuring it still was there. "I..." she started, her voice very small as she stepped away from the men to find a safe place against the far wall. The words, whatever they would've been, died in her throat, and she slid down the wall, in a pile of red cloth. What could she do? She wasn't brave, and the only way she could've been a modicum of use was if the dead had been intangible. Not the rotting, shambling, hungry corpses that she could hear moaning outside the window.

"They're everywhere..."

There was no point shouting after Sheena. Everybody else was and it wasn't going to change a thing. "She must really like Yukari," he smiled to himself.

While the orders weren't from Ritsuka, Soubi helped Sousuke. He helped Ritsuka and Miku before gently pulling Ritsuka away by his sleeve. He patted Miku on the head, but it was up to her friend to keep her....happy. Soubi just wasn't allowed to let anything hurt her. So he sat near the window and pulled Ritsuka onto his lap, reaching into the pocket at the front of the hoodie and pulling out the photographs and his cigarette. FLicking through, he took out the photograph of Ritsuka that he'd taken in Tasty Burger before they'd....disagreed.

"They're not in here," Soubi said, calmly. He wasn't going to acknowledge the silent 'yet' that everybody could clearly hear.

The bed and bedside table set against the door, Sousuke finished the pile with the TV and a threadbare armchair. Once the furniture was against the door to his liking, the sergeant backed away to catch his breath. Covered in dust and blood and grime, he realized grimly that he was right at home. This was his everyday on the battlefield. But while this was the first time he'd felt as though he was standing solidly, he wished Ritsuka and Miku weren't there. The odds they would become casualties were higher than those for himself or Soubi.

On top of everything, Miku was starting to display signs of battlefield stress. If she wasn't thinking with everything she had, there was a chance that she would panic and run in the wrong direction or disobey one of his orders. He had to bring her back.

"Miku, listen to me," he said, kneeling down and gently taking her face between his rough palms. "Every night we've been in this situation--and every morning we were injured, but we lived to see the sun, didn't we? Just make it to the morning with me and this will be gone. All of it," he hoped. Swallowing lightly, he gently kissed Miku's cheek. People did that sort of thing to calm down people they loved, right? "Rest for now. Agatsuma and I are here to protect you both, just rest."

Sousuke easily lifted Miku off the floor, bringing her closer to Soubi and Ritsuka, and set her down on the other bed in the room. He wanted to sit by her and comfort her, but he had to raid the room of everything that was useful. He pulled a pillowcase off the bed and marched into the bathroom to begin creating their emergency escape device.

The door was barricaded, but there was a bigger problem. Miku was breaking with the stress of everything happening and she needed someone to anchor her. He certainly wasn't doing any better, but he couldn't focus on himself right now. He'd flipped out in the lobby and had cost them some valuable time; and now Sheena was gone with only a card stuck in the window like that was going to help somehow. Ritsuka started toward Miku out of instinct when he felt a hand on his sleeve and he was pulled away.

Before he could protest, he was sitting in Soubi's lap and the guy was flipping through photographs and taking out a cigarette. This was what he hated most about Soubi - his unnatural calm in the face of things that most people would be frightened of. It didn't seem human, and the reminder that Soubi had been trained like this, changed into something not quite human was just wrong. "What the hell is wrong with you?!" he snapped, trying to keep his voice low since Sousuke was calming Miku down. If he started screaming, it might undo all of Sousuke's words. "How can you be so damn casual about this?! She's hurting, our friends are still out there, and you're just--"

His words dissolved into a frustrated growl and he pushed Soubi's hands off, untangling himself from the older man and glaring at him. Miku was alone on the bed and Ritsuka doubted that she'd be okay with that. Soubi could come if he wanted to act like a normal person, but right now, Miku needed someone. Turning and going over to the bed, Ritsuka climbed up onto it and touched her arm. "Miku...Soubi's right. They're not in here. Sousuke's here and so are we - they're not going to get to you."

Sousuke was right, of course; every morning they had woken up and seen each other. So tomorrow would be no different. But she was so frightened. Miku touched the spot on her cheek where Sousuke had kissed her. She had to believe that he would be right.

When Ritsuka crawled up beside her, she started a little, and turned to face him. It was kind of appalling that she couldn't keep her thoughts straight, but even if scared, Ritsuka had done a better job than she had. Miku swallowed down the weird, harsh lump in her throat and kept the worst of her thoughts to herself. It's not me I'm worried about, it's you, it's all of you leaving me. I don't want to be alone again. Were there other friends okay? Who knew? They were holed up in here like rats.

Instead, Miku tucked a bit of Ritsuka's hair behind his ear and smiled sadly. "I know you will. I'm sorry..." I just know something bad is going to happen. And I've been ignoring it all day long. "I don't want to worry you or Sousuke." But she was, and the harsh, jagged lump in her throat plunked down into her stomach. Miku stroked Ritsuka's hair, though she wasn't sure if it was for his benefit or her own and looked back towards the bathroom, waiting for Sousuke to appear again.

"I'll do my best to not get in the way."

Ritsuka was so confusing. Soubi thought that the distraction would be appreciated. He didn't realise he was acting...the wrong way. Maybe not the same way Miku and Ritsuka were acting, but he was an adult. Besides, Ritsuka was his priority and, for the moment, his priority was safe. So...what was the problem?

And the mention of friends...Soubi might have felt something that was probably worry. At the pit of his stomach. But still...they weren't Ritsuka. He couldn't think of them right now, they'd get in the way...

Soubi watched (slightly jealous) as Ritsuka went to comfort Miku. While he'd clearly screwed up, he couldn't give up entirely. So he waited before moving closer and smiling to the girl, holding out the pictures.

"All we can do now is wait. The time will go quicker if you have something else to think about."

Hopefully able to distract Miku...Soubi now had to think of the rest of Ritsuka's comments. Their friends still outside. Their friends? Who were they. Sheena, probably. Demyx maybe. Kio? Soubi didn't want to think about Kio. He almost felt compelled to trust Ritsuka's life in the hands of Sousuke so he could go and friend his useless friend.

He looked to Ritsuka, smile vanishing, a blank look of obedience taking over. "What are your orders?"

While this was going on, Sousuke was taking stock of what was in the hotel room bathroom. He tore down the shower curtain and examined it. If both Ritsuka and Miku covered themselves in it, it might be harder for the zombies to bite or scratch them. They were only humans, after all, he thought. Their teeth couldn't be much sharper when they were rotting out of their jaws.

The towels were musty, but still useful. He turned on the tap to wet one, frowning when the water came out black and spoiled. A main must have ruptured somewhere. The dry ones would have to do in case of injury.

Sousuke returned to the main room and began rifling through the drawers, looking through the possessions of whoever had been staying here when the hotel had gone to hell.

God, it was creepy how the two 'protectors' had just shut themselves off like that. Sousuke was working methodically through the rooms, picking up anything that could be used as a weapon, and now Soubi was asking for orders like... Like he always did. Ritsuka had to deal with things one at a time, though, and first, it was Miku. Getting her to calm down and bringing her back was the priority. And it would give him time to think about what 'orders' he had to give. All the fear and the disgust and the bad memories had to be pushed away for now, because someone else needed him more.

"It's not about staying out of the way. It's about staying here with us - and you know what I mean." He felt fingers in his hair and the sensation startled him briefly before he realized she was probably doing it to calm herself. If that's what she needed, so be it. He calmed and let her touch his hair, even as Soubi moved closer. "We're all scared, Miku, but you're not alone. All we have to do is make it to daybreak, and this'll all be gone, okay?"

That made it sound so easy. All they had to do was make it to daybreak. Wait for the sun to come up and pray this wasn't like the movies where the zombies stayed anyway. Ritsuka had never looked forward to a new day so much as he did right now. When the sun rose, there would be casualties and injuries and all sorts of bad things, but they'd all be safe back at the Institute. Odd to think of that place as safe, but it was a hell of a lot better than this place right now.

Soubi was holding out pictures and Ritsuka took them, finally wondering just where he'd gotten them from, before handing them over to Miku. Hopefully, Soubi was right and this would distract her a little bit. Even a small distraction was worthwhile at the moment because he needed to think. What were his orders? He'd wanted to get away from the burning bodies before, but now that he was... Thoughts of everyone else floated back: Nataku, Tamaki, the Twins, Kio, Demyx... They were all unaccounted for, but sending Soubi out there alone would be suicide. Going with him would upset Miku.

He hated this.

"...Do you want to search for Kio?" he asked, looking up at the older man. Demyx was a fighter, the twins and Tamaki could hole up somewhere, Nataku seemed capable of handling himself, but Kio? Kio was just as bad as Ritsuka, only twice as big. "It's stupid to go out there, but I know he's your friend. I'm not going to leave him out there, if you want to go."

Miku's eyes traveled over Ritsuka's face for a moment. She knew she had to calm down, but she couldn't get her mind to stop thinking in the same circuit. What had Subaru said?

"I know, I'm sorry." Miku put her hand on Ritsuka's shoulder and let it rest there a moment before it back and resting them on her knees. She just had to think, and to calm down and find that place that seemed to take all the bad feelings away. She rested her forehead on her knees and tried to find it while Ritsuka spoke to Soubi.

"What are you doing, Sousuke?" she asked.

Apparently Soubi was in the dog house and he wasn't getting out. Why did he have to throw choices at Soubi like that? It was...cruel. Even if the cruelty was unintended.

Forcing his face to remain blank was easy. It was harder to stop his eyes from showing anything. Particularly the surprise that Ritsuka....had guessed Soubi might be worried about Kio. He told himself it was a normal reaction. Which was exactly why he couldn't follow it.

"That wasn't an order," he said, moving away and staring out the window. He was worried about Kio and Ritsuka wanted him to be 'normal', but he couldn't leave his Sacrifice here. The choice was too difficult, even if Soubi had the right to make one. All the more reason to leave it up to his master.

Maybe he could light his cigarette now. There wasn't much noise outside their door.

"Looking for supplies," Sousuke replied stiffly, holding up a rather musty and gauche shirt. Honestly, it even offended his non-existent fashion sensibilities, and the man had worn fatigues his whole life. He tossed the shirt aside.

"Preferably something to fight with," he finished, producing a shaving razor from a bathroom kit. He frowned at it--this wouldn't do anything at all. He tossed it aside and continued rifling through the drawers and suitcases. So far, the poker was looking like his best option.

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