Bloom
"That's enough, Yronica."
The girl turned around, startled by the sudden interruption. Her 'anger' towards Aaaqil dissipated, turning into a a hint of irritation and annoyance towards him. He tried to take Callum's attention away, again.
She didn't love Callum, no. He was like a stupid puppy clingy to her and following her around like a damn lost boy. It was pathetic — really. Yet she found it pleasing, watch him always come crawling back each time an argument ensued, all because he wanted that same social status Yronica has—the popular kid—knowing damn well his popularity relied on her.
God, for all she cares, he could just go run over to Aaaqil anyway. That jock was annoying as hell, made great company but horrible humor, well, for her.
She stared at whoever was in the shadows that had interrupted her, her eyes searching for them.
"Come out, Eman. I know that's you. Always is."
The wallflower walked out of the corner of the room, a low sigh escaping her. Her hands were already crossed infront of her chest, eyes looking Yronica up and down. "You shouldn't be doing this. Focus on the match and stop involving your personal issues during a round."
"Ugh. It's none of your business, Eman."
"We need two more gens, and Aaaqil is needed for it." She checked the watch, eight minutes.
"Better be quick then." That tone. That damned tone, so full of disdain. Eman never liked the way she talked, so rude, so selfish. All she cared for was herself, she thought. Maybe—if that girl was shown a lesson, the she'd change? No way. The Mist is already a lesson. She's just hopeless.
Aaaqil smiled at Eman, his glasses almost slipping off his face had he not notice it quickly. He wasn't close with Eman, nor definitely with Yronica, but they were still something he'd call.. 'friends'.
He lets out a shaky exhale, preparing to exit the room alongside Eman, who looked behind her, a simple glare shot straight at Yronica. It was not hatred, just a threat.
The girl ignored her. Who was she to glare at her like that?! With-- with disdain?! With hatred?! Who does she think she is? She's not affected by her, she won't be. She's not vulnerable, nor was she weak that she'd just.. follow what Eman said.
But what was that deep, heavy feeling pooling in her stomach? Why did she feel disappointed—irritated. Not at Eman, but at herself.
Tsk.
"Uhhh huhhhh.. two more gens and we're done!" Emery cheerfully hummed, his hands fiddling the wires of the generator with Gavin and Amari, his brows furrowed as he gritted his teeth.
"Uhh.. What the flip?" He clicked his tongue, the gen exploding as he lets go of the wires. "I am not doing this. Too boring, too complicated."
"Just help us get it done, kid," The officer mumbled, "then we can get out of this damned shit hole faster."
"Ack, right. Damn."
Amari still didn't approach the gen, instead, he seemed deep in thought. "I haven't seen the killer whether who it is. Pretty sure it isn't Android though, he's not doing shit that's messing up the gens and makes it harder."
"Not watcher neither." Sanjana emerged from the bush, Emery humming as he saw her while Amari looked surprised.
"The hell you came from??"
"The bush."
"No, like, how did you get in the bush without a single one of us noticing.."
"Mari, just help with the gen! Stop babbling and help!"
"Right, yeah, yeah."
"Has any of you seen Kelvin? I swear he was right beside me a few moments ago," the woman sighed, "that childish rat."
"I saw him casually walking around. He's not contributing at all this round." Gavin muttered, his eyes trailing over to the wires, his eyes slowly squinting as he tried to attach it together. He hummed as he managed to, his hands travelling to the next wire.
Sanjana hummed, her hand clasping on the detector Kelvin had lent her earlier. He gave it to him and said, "I'll go help with the gens!" But then she'll hear that he was just wandering around like an idiot? She swears, cursing that she'll certainly give him the sermon of his life once she finds her. He better pray that he hides faster than when she finds him.
"... I'll 'take care' of him." Muttered her, grinding her teeth against the other. Turning around to leave, she pivoted her head back one last time. "Hm."
She doesn't seem to respond any more further, a small sigh being the only thing she let out as she walked onto the staircase, sitting down on the pavement below.
Oddly enough, not a single one of them four saw the cracks that started to form below near the staircase, a faint red glow throbbing within it. Yet the three continued on with the gen, each time they had connected a wire ignited a spark within it.
Her head instinctively leaned sideward to her hand, her thumb finding her temple as she rubbed slow circles to ease the sudden headache that came to consume her thoughts. It was annoying, not having Iris near her, nor Kelvin bugging her.
Kelvin bugging her?
Okay — when was she bothered about not having Kelvin bother her. But why was she so.. distraught. She shouldn't care that much — for all she knows is he could be slacking off in one of the rooms here at this.. stupid school. After all, he was like a damn parasite always sticking beside her — like a damn thorn in her way.
But why did she feel so worried? Why would she be worried? For all she cared — again — he could be hanging around with the others. For all she cared — he could be doing generators now. For all she cared — he could dead--
Dead. Again.
Her head throbbed, fingers trying to rub harder to soothe the aching pain that seared it's way into her skull. The last thing she needed in this hellhole was a bad headache and a slacking agent. The last thing she needed was to worry about a grown man.
Kelvin. Where the fuck are you..
She stared at the gates, the mist almost taunting at the other end. It dared not seep through the damn holes of the gate, instead just sat there, waiting. Waiting. Don't look at me like that. It ridiculed her, laughing at her misery and the attempts of their so called agency's to 'capture' or to 'subdue' it. Stop. It's an anomaly, where are you so angry? Stop. It's fake. Don't believe in it.
She shut her eyes, counting each take of breath that she did in perhaps, hopes that it'd calm her down. She doesn't need anger to dictate her actions. She doesn't need to be crashing out over some stupid anomaly.
Then she opened her eyes.
"What the hell?--" Her breath hitched in her throat, eyes searching the surroundings that threatened to eat her whole. She rubbed her eyes, opening yet again to a whole new scene.
Screeches and screams of agony filled her ears, each sound horrifying than the last, each one filling her with rage. Wrecked buildings, debris spread across the city's street with people crushed underneath the rubble or vehicles that had turned over to maul their bodies. Explosion after explosion—each strong enough to make her feel unease despite knowing it can't harm her. Maybe—just maybe—it'd let her return in time, to subdue the terrorist, to end the terror he'd cause. Maybe, she'd be able to even stopKelvin from entering the rift, help the others, escape with them.
But the mist wouldn't do all that, it finds their suffering amusing. They're its chess pieces to a game they're all losing, to a game they're all dying.
Yet amidst the crowd—a certain silhouette caught her attention, their back turned to her. They laid motionless, standing still despite the chaos that surrounded them, and that lured Sanjana in. Her legs move slowly, each step bringing her closer and closer. Before she knew it, she was already reaching over to him. Him.
It can't be.
Sanjana gritted her teeth.
Is it baiting me? Why did I step forward? I should've thought more about my actions more. What am I doing? This is-
"Sanjana? What's wrong?"
She was right on her assumption, yet still was frozen in the shock, staring blankly at the man who wore blue led glasses, and practically the same uniform as Kelvin, if not more secure. Black hair was just as messy as Kiat's, a confused smile on his face. "Hello? You in there?"
That was a stupid question, of course she's in there, she thought. She pulled away, finally letting out a breath she didn't know she had held onto for so long. She had multiple questions, but one nagged on her more than the rest did.
What is he doing here—how is he interacting with her?
Shouldn't this be some sort of broken fragment of her memory used to taunt her? Shouldn't it be a haunting figment that would bring her guilt?
So why is this man talking with her so casually?
"You, how are you doing this," she uttered, "you're not supposed to be-"
"The exit gates are opened, you know? I bet Kelvin's already waiting." That pulled Sanjana out of her trance the same way that he was pulling her to the gates with him. The once sight of a city filled with destruction now returning to the gloomy and dark school.
Wait, is he really pulling her?
"Hey, let me go!" Multiple words of protest left her mouth as he continued to drag her, yet her eyes set on the courtyard.
Did Kelvin manage to get out?
P3-NG could feel his circuits running loose again despite his previous self-repair just a few hours ago. He's oddly starting be a bit faulty for a while now, his wires often starting to run loose after what had happened previously. It was a blessing the mist hadn't send him out there to a round yet, but he still had to focus on repairing his arm.
"And what is The Android doing?" A giggle broke free from the floor (?) as the girl pooled out of the crimson puddle that formed on the floor of P3-NG's cabin. He wasn't pleased having 'visitors' in his cabin, especially not when he's broken and when they come out of the floor. It was odd. Atleast her puddle doesn't leave any blood behind.
"What do you need?"
"Just wanted to ask how you're doing? You rarely left your cabin after that match at Roanoke Woods." Ah right, that round. He believes that's where he started malfunctioning, or rather after it. Is it because he failed, letting the survivors win? Or did it have to do with the orb? Either way, it bought misfortune upon him.
"It's just my gears, nothing else."
"Maybe.. you haven't oiled it yet??? I'll tell the fish to come and help-"
"No. I need no one's help. I am perfectly operating and in no need of help."
"Hmm?" Kiara chuckled at that. No way in hell was he acting good—not when he looked like terrible shit. A patch of 'skin' were out of his body that showed gears and wires that stuck loose, a clear contrast to his claim.
"I'm not taking your word for it. You know, you can ask everyone out for help. We know we aren't exactly.. specialized or whatever you can it—for whatever your thing is..-"
"Robotics? Technology?"
"Ah, ah, yes! That. We can uhh maybe help out in some stuff.. you know. Err, like me giving you a makeover! Yes, yes!" She cheered, floating around him as she laughed. "Isn't that a fantastic idea?"
P3-NG can't help but feel a smile tug on into his lips. The girl's cheerful personality reminded him alot of Yan, when they were together. "If it's what pleases you, then it is what it is."
"You'd allow me?! Oh, you don't know what I have in store for you! I'd definitely give you some good casual and- and maybe formal outfits too! I think i have some suits but maybe you'd prefer sweaters? You seem like the type to wear a sando, oh so many decisions!"
The girl kept rambling on and on, jumping from one spot to another in a constant speed. It was amusing, at least in P3-NG's perspective.