Blind rage, so much that she could only remember once in her entire life that she felt this angry and malevolent.
All of that was directed at one singular person. The girl she was chasing, the girl was laughably incompetent, dropping pallets too early, vaulting without making sure she wasn't vaulting into the killer's, or her, arms.
She could have caught the survivor a while ago, despite not being that experienced herself. She'd made sure the girl was injured and bleeding, but would always let her go when she had the chance to down her. She knew how they thought, how they ran loops, she could get inside the heads of even the best of the best if she wanted to. And all the inexperience of being on this side of the chase was made up for with sheer determination, and outside help.
She thought of him. Who'd saved her so many times, cradled her in his arms regardless of whether she was in danger or not. A rock for her to cling to when the tide wanted to pull her out to sea.
Some of the bloodlust abated. Replaced by the warm fuzziness in her chest at the thought of him. The chase was becoming less important, more of her focus falling to her desire to see him again, have him hold her like last time and carry her. Just to feel safe with him.
Eventually she stopped moving entirely, standing there in the woods of Springfield. Watching the other girl limp away while bleeding profusely in agony. She'd had her fun. Now she just wanted him.
And somehow...her wish was granted.
Footsteps approached from the right, their low volume hiding just how large the person was, and her head snapped over to him. There he was, as tall and menacing as ever, but she knew how much of a teddy bear he was at heart. Despite her confusion at how he was there she flung herself into his arms, hugging him tightly and squeaking when he lifted her to sit on the crook of his left elbow. Simply resting there as he carried her three feet above the ground.
She let him do all the walking. Because she knew that as long as he was here he'd do anything for her, so she let her temple rest on the top of his head and wrapped her arms around his neck. Closing her eyes, but not sleeping. He'd get them both out of there soon enough, then they could sit down at home and she could both rudely and politely demand for him to teach her everything he knew about chess while sitting in his lap. Regardless of how it would be easier if she was facing him on the other side of the chess table.
Yeah, that sounded nice.
Claudette hated violence. She knew she was timid, shy, quiet, and never picked fights, but it didn't mean she wasn't capable of getting angry. It just took a lot to push her that far, and a lot of a specific thing to get her there as well. That specific thing was messing with her family.
Something that Yun Jin was directly doing.
"How can any of us trust you! Two of you have already gone off and tried to make friends with the killers out there and now you all want to go save them!" The asian producer shouted at them, standing angrily with her fists clenched. Felix and Elodie looked like they were ready to step in and defend her point at a moments notice.
But to Claudette's silent fear, she saw that some of the other survivors weren't rolling their eyes or looking bored. Some were looking interested.
The mere thought of anyone having interest in what Yun Jin had to say about the oldest survivors should have been tossed out the window almost immediately after the producer arrived. Stuff like this had been happening almost since day one of Yun Jim's tenure here, and the other survivors had loved the drama back them, now it probably just bored them.
Yet for some reason people like Nancy, Ash, Jeff, and Yui were watching intently, deep in thought at the Asian's accusations.
Claudette was in the middle of a ring. The ring consisting of the rest of her family members. Bill and David in the front while Feng, Laurie, Kate, Ace, Dwight, and Jake surrounded her. Fortunately keeping her largely out of sight and out of mind from the wolves.
She had been mentally preparing herself to step in if the situation called for it, her anger was rising slowly as Yun Jin called both Nea and Meg's accountability and intentions into question. She was sick of, they had been nothing but accommodating to her and her friends. Claudette had treated them no different than the others and this is how they treated them in return. It was enough already.
"What's stopping you from going out there and helping the killers get us so you can go free! Huh!" Yun Jin shouted.
"Enough!" Claudette shouted. Barging her way through her friends until she was facing the crowd of survivors. Glaring the Asian producer down and making use of her surprise factor. "We are not trying to betray anybody, but we are learning more about all of the killers and the Entity so we can hopefully get out of here! So why are you getting in the way of it, would you rather stay here?!" Claudette shouted, her fists clenched and her breathing heavy.
She could see the effect her words had on those listening. It would be something they would think on, but it didn't seem to change their angry faces as they watched the spat.
"We're going after Meg and Nea regardless of how you feel because they are good people, and our family! They are out there because they're trying to get all of us out, and we're going to go help them. We'll be back eventually." Claudette spat, turning around and waving for her friends to follow. After a few steps she heard their foot steps following close behind.
Claudette didn't immediately lead them into the trees. Instead heading back to their side of the campfire and covering her face with her hands, her heart racing and breathing erratic. She was almost disappointed in herself for getting so worked up on an argument with another survivor because by comparison she hadn't been that tense about a trial in a long time. Not since the Oni first arrived and before the Entity muffled his footsteps.
Ace stepped the closest to her. "Plant smart, are you okay? I don't think I've ever seen you snap like that." He asked, concern weaving into his voice. Claudette sat down on the sand, crossing her legs and trying to calm down. Ace put a hand on her shoulder having bent down to her level. Giving her time to breathe before she spoke.
"It's just, a lot. I'm worried about them. I mean what if they need us? And then even if we get them back we still have to worry about them!" Claudette said, shooting her arm out towards the others and letting it fall immediately.
Kate spoke up before Ace could. "Claud, I know you're sacred for 'em and concerned about what those crazies are gonna do. I'm concerned 'bout 'em too and want them back, but those people." Kate said, pointing over at the others. "Don't matter right now, what matters is that we go out there and get them back. All of together can handle anything the other survivors can throw at us." The southern belle reassured with confidence, having mimicked her position. She was pulled into a tight hug, feeling reassurance and comfort emitting from Kate.
Something a lot like what she'd felt when The Hillbilly had hugged her.
David's hand reached out to her, inviting her to take it and let him haul her up. She did, almost falling over from how much force David used when he pulled. Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment but she laughed in good nature as everyone else chuckled.
"I'm sorry if I'm interrupting." A voice spoke from outside of their group. Everyone turned to stare at the intruder, seeing none other than Jill Valentine standing by herself. Her arms crossed defensively as she stared at them.
Jill was a bit of an enigma. Her friends were all outside of the realm and free from the Entity's torment. So Jill herself was a bit of a loner. Thought Claudette didn't think it was because of an actual desire to be away from other people. It was most likely an ability to sense that she wasn't exactly welcome in most groups as they grew more closed off as time went on.
Perhaps that's why Jill had seemingly taken a shining to Meg. She'd been the only person other than Leon to give her much a chance outside of the trials, and Meg seemed to be willing to dig deep in order figure the cop out.
Meg really was something special wasn't she?
Despite the red head's age she'd managed to put herself in a position of leadership among the survivors. Of course she wasn't alone. Herself, Dwight, and Jake had backed her the entire time once others started showing up. Then the rest of their family joined in once even more arrived, all falling back to what Meg had to say about how to handle the trials and killers.
"I saw which way Cheryl pointed Nea in, and I wanna help." Jill said. Cocking one hip and planting her feet firmly.
Everyone stayed silent, obvious to Claudette but not to Jill that they were debating whether or not Jill was in cahoots with Yun Jin, and not whether they'd bring her or not. Although, she supposed it was rather the same idea all things considered.
She spoke up before any of her friends could. "The more the merrier, you seem to not despise us which is more than I can say for the others." Claudette said, her voice dropping in disappointment at the end.
"You don't really think they all despise us do you?" Dwight asked as he turned to look at her. His face crossed with concern, and Claudette didn't exactly know how to respond.
"Eh gal has a point, I don't like it but the others have started listening to the murderous producer more and we're less popular than ever." David said in this British accent, looking back at them, then at Feng in particular for some reason, and then settling back on Jill. "I just don't get why they would listen to her. We've all heard her go on about us stabbing them in the back and they've never given her a second thought before now." David added on, bringing one hand up to rub his chin, also showing his scarred knuckles from all the bar fights he'd had.
"Well, I can't say for sure, but I think they've caught on to how Trapper has gone soft on Meg, same with you and Nea, Claud'." Ace said. "Who knows how they figured it out, but I'm willing to bet that Yun Jin was spying on us when we were talking about it. Now they're scared." Ace surmised. Not seeming to care too much about how the others felt, if what he said was true of course.
Jake surprisingly put his two cents in, having been very quiet since the argument started. "It makes sense, and I can definitely understand automatically assuming the worse in someone, but I figured we had at least some credibility in their eyes after all this time." The Asian grumbled, sounding rather irritated. "But at least she seems to believe we aren't planning on selling the others out." He said while pointing at Jill who'd remained stoic as she watched them.
Jill shifted her feet before speaking. "I may have been called a bleeding heart before but I'm not stupid, but it's pretty obvious Yun Jin-Lee has got some issues up here." Jill tapped her own temple. "I don't think anyone here would work with the survivors in a plot to kill another survivor, not even her. She hates the killers too much, especially her own K-pop freak." The cop said, uncrossing and recrossing her arms in boredom. "But we shouldn't wait here any longer. Two of your friends are out by there by themselves with over two dozen serial killers. We take too long and we don't know what will happen to them." Jill said, her voice changing in tone to that of a police officer, and not that of an average woman. To which many of them just chuckled.
"I can definitely see why Meg took a liking to you." Bill said, stepping away from the group and starting to walk towards the trees. "The similarities are almost startling, but you're right, and you can come. Let's go." Bill finished with a wave and a military like command.
Claudette smiled as Jake helped her up and they both began following everyone else.
We'll find you two. Claudette thought to herself.
Nea wasn't sure if she should have been surprised or not.
Riding on Phillip's back was still giving her intense vertigo and it was hard to actually look around as he walked across the land.
Thankfully the trip to the Asylum had been short but Nea still didn't know if she should be surprised at the state of the Asylum.
It was patched up rather well. The areas where the damage would require a full construction team were just boarded up with wood to the best of the builders ability, but the rest of the place was like Autohaven and rather clean.
Piles of wood covered in wisps like the trail after one of the Nurse's blinks were all gone, perhaps even used in the patching of the domed roof and walls. Hedges were cut and maintained, vines torn away and just like Autohaven, all pallets were gone and vaults blocked up in the jungle gyms.
In the far distance she thought she could see what looked to be the Chapel, but it didn't look any different than it did from the trials. Why had the Nurse ignored it? Wasn't it part of her territory?
Then she remembered why she was even coming back to this place, and why she was unconscious the first time she'd been here.
The Clown.
Just the thought of him made her fists ball up and her jaw clench. She wanted to rip him to shreds, make him know what it felt like to be under the influence of those wretched pink bottles. But unfortunately if the trials were any hint, only the yellow ones seemed to affect him.
He had arrived with the Chapel, so he was probably over there whenever he wasn't in a death match. The fat pig hadn't even bothered to clean the place up, she probably wouldn't be able to even tell the difference between that Chapel and the ones from the trials.
Nea pulled herself away from that train of thought and looked down at Phillip's head, focusing on him so he'd be visible. She looked carefully at the burns that streaked up the side of his face and reached above the left side of his forehead.
He had told her he was fascinated by her, and then when she was getting assaulted and kidnapped, he saved her and even made sure she was taken care of. Even now he was still making sure she was taken care of, just heading back to get the stitches removed.
How did she heal so fast anyway? Probably the Entity never wanting one of its toys to be out of use for very long.
Hesitantly, she brought her left hand, that had been wrapped around his shoulders, up to rest on his head, her palm falling right on the scar tissue. The texture was rough, but wasn't unpleasant or like tree bark.
Phillip's head gave the tiniest twitch when she put her palm there. The Nigerian stopping his momentum to turn his head to look at her. To Nea's own detriment he could see her, so she knew he could see how red her cheeks were at being caught.
"I-I'm sorry, I just-" She began to apologize, but was cut off when he let go of one of her feet and brought it up on top of where her hand was on his head.
"Don't apologize, it feels...nice." He said, stroking the top of her hand with his thumb before letting it slowly slide off.
"Oh, yeah same here. I guess it makes you feel a little more human to me." Nea offered, growing bolder as she slowly traced the scar tissue from his jaw to the top of his head. The burns were nothing to sneeze at, easily having been third degree. The area wasn't very large and it largely missed his eyes, his eye lids only had fully healed first degree burns.
The third degree ones obviously hadn't been taken care of properly, something that must have been quite infuriating to deal with. All the itching and rash like feelings directly on his face constantly for who knows how long.
"How did you get these?" She asked, still running her fingers tips over his face.
Phillip paused slightly before finding his stride again and walking up to the front door of the Asylum and knocking. "It's a long story." He said cryptically, but she was denied the chance to ask for the story when the large wooden doors opened to reveal The Nurse herself.
The Nurse was not in her usual white dress, instead wearing a darker grey version of it, with slight changes to the design that probably made moving easier.
"Ah Phillip, good to see you again. I see she's awake already." The Nurse said. Her voice was entirely not what Nea was expecting. She had largely thought that The Nurse would have a weak, raspy voice. Similar to the sounds she made whenever she was fatigued from a blink. Instead her voice was smooth, strong, and musical, with a bit of a motherly aura to it.
Phillip, to Nea's immense displeasure, crouched down as a sign that she should get off. She did, but she wasn't a fan of the coldness she now felt at the lack of skin contact.
The Nurse extended a hand out to her, her palm uncurling. Nea shook it, surprised at the texture of it. The skin was smooth and soft for the most part, but she could feel what felt like a layer of dust or ash on The Nurse's skin. Yet despite the friction between their hands the dust remained unmoved.
"It's a pleasure to meet you dear, my name is Sally." She said with a light curtsy before stepping aside and gesturing for the two to come in. Phillip held a hand out to his side, glancing at her from the corner of his eye, his gaze questioning. Nea didn't say anything, but after a second of consideration she slipped her hand into his much larger one and let him lead her inside.
She hadn't expected The Nurse to sound so kind, much less curtesy in greeting, perhaps she was from an older time, or maybe she was an old soul? Nea had never met anyone like that before or at the campfire. Although it was hard to tell since she didn't have a point of reference.
Bill was probably her best bet as to that. Yet, Meg had changed a lot since she'd first met her. The red head had been rather rude, loud, not altruistic, and less likable over all, but very likable to her younger self. While all of them had improved as people over all since their time, Meg had seemingly undergone the biggest change. She'd started to act a lot more like Bill actually.
The Nurse, or Sally, turned around when they reached a ornate wooden door that led into the main room of the second floor. The inside normally held three beds strewn about with a single curtain around an ever present generator while there were two holes in the floor that lead to small cubbies down below. Just how had The Nurse re organized and repaired all of that?
"Now what's your name dear?" Sally asked with a tilt of her head.
Was that just something every killer did?
"N-Nea." She stuttered. Earning a light giggle from Sally. "Oh don't be nervous dear, I won't bite. Thankfully you were asleep when I stitched those nasty wounds up so you don't have to worry now, because even thought I don't have any anesthetics removing them shouldn't hurt." She said as she opened her door and waved them both in.
Phillip did not come in with her however, and she stopped completely when she realized he wasn't. Her head craning around to look at him in confusion as he merely watched her through the door way.
"Aren't you coming in?" She asked, raising one eyebrow in annoyance. Annoyance that she used to mask the anxiousness about being alone with an unfamiliar killer. To be completely fair she shouldn't have been as comfortable around Phillip as she already was from a logical standpoint, and she hasn't known him much longer than Sally. Yet something in his eyes and demeanor was just easy to relax around, and she couldn't deny she felt safer knowing she had one of the most feared killers by her side when there were other killers like the Clown still out there.
"Rather forward aren't you Nea?" Phillip said suggestively, wiggling his non existent eyebrows at her.
Nea squinted at him in confusion, then after exactly two seconds her eyes widened in realization and her cheeks set on fire. With a huff and a cross of her arms she glared at him. "You know that's not what I meant." She said sharply, just begging for him to have the guts to keep the conversation going.
"I don't know, was it? I mean I wouldn't blame you if you wanted me to come with you, after all just look at me." Phillip said with an infuriating smile that just made Nea want to tackle him. Maybe if she put him on the ground he'd learn to stop being so cocky. Yeah that sounded like a great idea.
"You always have been a bit of a flirt with girls you were comfortable with haven't you Phillip?" Sally said from the table she had set up, the few tools she'd need set on a table next to it. The killer hadn't even bothered to look up at him, instead motioning for Nea to come over and lay down.
"Is he really like this with everyone?" Nea questioned, pointing over at the man in question as he simply leaned on the door frame while smiling at her like a smug child.
"Oh yes, thankfully he's got the decency to keep it appropriate, but I've lost count of the amount of times where he's insinuated something romantic to myself or another female killer. In fact his little quip just now was rather explicit for his taste." Sally half faced him, letting her head fall towards his direction. While the linen on her head should have made it more difficult, Nea could clearly tell that Sally was giving him her best "you can do better" look.
"What can I say, I'm a true lady killer. But I'll leave you two for now, I'm sure I can find something to occupy myself with while you're busy." He said, and with that Phillip closed the door. His footsteps were impossible to hear just like before, however there was no mistaking the distant sound of his wailing bell.
"He really is a sweetheart, and there are several other killers I can think of that are too. Maybe I'll give you a list so you know which ones are safe to talk to." Sally said. "But let's get that thread out of your side hmm?"
Nea definitely felt apprehension at her situation as she layer down, and she tried to suppress it. Sally seemed like a kind woman, and Phillip was friends with her so that had to count for something right? She just couldn't help the nagging feeling of insecurity without Phillip. What if the Clown came back? Would Sally be able to protect them both like Phillip had?
"Try to relax dear, I know we just met but I was an actual nurse, and I never wanted to be a killer either. Many of those sweeter killers were all pushed into it in some way or another." Sally reassured, laying a palm on Nea's bicep for comfort.
"Really?" She asked. Sally just giggled.
"Of course silly, not all of us enjoy it, and most of us hate each other. I can't even begin to count how many times Evan, Phillip, or Max have brawled with the more vile among us. Why I think nearly every killer who still has a conscious has taken a punch at Jeffery." Sally spoke with humor, having already begun removing the stitches from Nea's left arm.
The sensation was rather unpleasant, not even from pain, but simply from the fact that it felt like someone was tugging on her skin from the inside. The last of the thread from that wound was removed, and the skin was now healed enough to finish the job by itself.
Then Sally moved to her leg, rolling the pant leg up to her mid thigh to access the wound. Within 30 seconds the thread was out and thrown away. It only took two more minutes before Nea was free to get up. When she did she turned to The Nurse. "Thank you, especially considering you really didn't have to help me. But who's Jeffery?" She asked.
Sally tilted her head before she answered. "Oh! Right of course, you don't know all of our names. Jeffery is that fat circus clown." She spat like the words were poison.
If Nea's dislike for The Clown wasn't strong enough, it was now. She didn't think she could hate him more.
"Unfortunately you're not the first woman he's assaulted. Most of the female killers have had to get him off of them at one point or another, myself included. It's a good thing he's a horrible fighter." Sally commented. Taking her tools to a bucket of water to clean them in, humming a quiet tune as she did so. "However unfortunate for me." Sally said with a hint of humor. "I'm forced to share the Asylum with him. Not this ward, but he lives in his traveling circus just next to the Chapel, and while I visit it occasionally, It's not safe to stay there for too long, even for me." Sally said while still looking down at her tools. Carefully but thoroughly cleaning them with her hands and a wash cloth.
"What do you mean, "even for you"." Nea asked.
"Well I doubt you know this dear, but among the killers the oldest of us are the best fighters. We've got the most experience with our abilities, usually more combat experience, and things in the realm work just a little different than they do in the real world. So if there's killer who was the better fighter in the real world, he's helpless here." Sally said with a giggle.
"It's why I'm always teaching the other girls how to fight. Other than Phillip, Max, and Evan, I've been here longer than everyone else. Unfortunately because you're a survivor you don't have the strength us killers do, so there is only so much I could do for you." She said with disappointment.
Nea was shocked at her behavior and what she had been told about the other killers. Meg had been right, some of them really weren't that bad after all, now it made sense as to why Meg had been so excited the last few days. Meg had realized it before she could.
"Actually!" Sally exclaimed. "You're little red haired friend? Not the one with those infuriating boons, the runner? The one Evan seems to be head over heels for?" Sally questioned rapidly, looking at Nea eagerly through the linen.
"Meg?" Nea said hesitantly. Wondering how her sister had anything to do with her learning how to fight killers.
"Is that her name? It's short for Megan isn't it? Well she's the best runner among you, no offense." Sally said jokingly. "You alongside the older survivors have always been the most difficult to catch. However Meg has not been caught by anyone in a ludicrous amount of time. Not even by Evan and such. I'd recommend you learn everything she knows about running faster because that's your safest option." Sally said, clasping her palms together with cheer in her voice.
Before Nea could respond a knock came from the door. Phillip's voice was muffled from the wood, but no less recognizable. "Is it alright for me to come in?" He asked through the wood.
"Yes!" Sally shouted to him.
Phillip came in quietly, looking at Nea's arm and face, his visage brightening when he noticed the lack of black thread. "Sally you're a miracle worker. Thank you. But while I was out I realized that it probably isn't safe for Nea to stay out here with the killers, even with the both of us here." He paused and turned to her." I'll take you back to the other survivors, but you'll have to guide me. The Entity has never let us get close before." He said. Opting to switch back and forth between the two of them as if asking if that was alright, especially Nea.
Going home sounded nice, she was sure the others were concerned about how long it had been since she'd left. But she still didn't know where Meg was, and with that thought her mind was made up.
"I can't leave yet, I came out here because Meg went looking for The Trapper and no one knows where she is." She said, doing her best to keep any obvious worry out of her voice, and she felt she did a pretty good job. However, whether she did or not. Phillip was obviously too smart for his own good.
"If you are concerned for her safety around Evan than you have nothing to worry about. He'd never hurt her, and he wouldn't let anyone else hurt her either." Phillip reassured. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Trust me."
Nea didn't know what to say, she wanted to argue that they didn't know that, because she'd seen how brutal The Trapper could be when angered enough, and Meg had a tendency to piss killers off. Yet Meg had spoken of how he had showed her mercy on several occasions, and Phillip and Sally obviously had known him for as long as they'd been here, and they trusted him. So she just sighed in defeat.
"Fine, but can you please just take me to her. I still need to talk to her." Nea said, looking up at Phillip pleadingly.
He looked down at her, staring into her eyes for a second before finally huffing and rolling his eyes. Earning a wide grin of victory from her.
"Fine, come on." He looked behind him to Sally. "Thanks again Sally, and I already know what you're thinking so don't say it." Phillip warned with a glare. Something that Sally just laughed loudly at.
"Oh Evan is going to love hearing this. He'll finally be able to get you back for all the jabs he's told me about." The Nurse said, her smile hidden, but obvious. She brought one hand up and wiggled her fingers at them. "It was nice to meet you Nea, try to enjoy yourself while you're out there. You too Phillip." She said before turning around to finish whatever business she had in the ward.
Phillip closed the door behind them, once again offering her a hand and guiding her down the stairs and out to the front gate of the Asylum. He pulled a loop of keys from his side, there were several on there, each different colors and shapes. He slid each one aside until he found a grey one which he slid into the padlock, and led her out to the road.
"The killers that are friendly with each other sometimes give copies of our gate keys. Lucky for you, I just so happen to have one for The Macmillan estate." Phillip said with a smirk. Bending down so Nea could get on his back again.
She groaned. "Oh do I have to go through that again. I think I'll puke if I do." She complained.
Phillip however, was unsympathetic, or perhaps he just got a kick out of her whining. "Well it's the fastest and safest way of getting there. Unless you'd rather us have to deal with more killers on the way there?" He said with one eyebrow raised.
Nea wanted to snark something back at him for challenging her like that, but fell short when she realized he was right. So with a sigh she climbed on and gripped his shoulders, letting her left hand once again fall to the side of his face where his scars were.
"That's the spirit." He said annoyingly smug. "Next stop, The Macmillan Estate. Watch out for the bear traps." And with that, he cloaked, Nea hid her head in his shoulder and they were off.
Meg couldn't see anything, it was all too dark. She could see some light, but it was faint and didn't help at all.
She opened her eyes groggily. The first thing she noticed was that there was a canopy over the bed she was in. As she blinked the sleep from her eyes she also noticed the carved wooden poles holding it up. The canopy held white drapes that were half opened liked curtains on every side but the back. The bed was adorned with pristine white sheets and comfortable pillows that were cradling her head.
Then Meg noticed the domed skylight in the center of the massive bedroom. The full moon of the Macmillan estate shined through it and on to the foot of the bed. Not able to reach above her legs. The rest of the room was covered in darkness, so she couldn't make out much of what was in it.
However, she could see many candle holders. All of the wicks having been previously lit, but snuffed at one point, sometime recently. There were two night stands on either side of the bed, and two dressers on the left wall.
The front wall had two large double doors with a coat rack and shelf next to them on either side. The coat rack held a large black cloak and robe, while the other arms had a much smaller red fluffy robe. The shelf had some trinkets and what was presumably mementos on it.
To her right was a smaller set of double doors, what Meg assumed was the master bathroom. Both the doors were a pretty dark wood, they looked glossy, perhaps the owner had waxed or stained them?
Meg sat up in the bed, feeling cold on her shoulder blades and back of her head. She noticed that her hair had been taken out of its braids, let loose to tumble down her shoulders and back in small waves. She looked down at her hands, noticing that her fingers and palms were wrapped in white bandages. Meg flexed her fingers, curling her hand into a fist, feeling something dried on her skin and under the gauze, like a dried wax or gel.
Pulling the sheets further down she saw that her jeans from before had been washed, free of any dirt or blood and looking better than they had in a while. But it set off alarms in her head at how someone had obviously taken them off of her while she was unconscious.
Her white shirt was the same as before she left the campfire, but her black zip up jacket had been washed as well, even the zipper was properly cleaned. She didn't have her shoes on, but the socks were washed like almost everything else. Then she rolled her right pant leg up and saw the bandages over her bear trap wound. There was a tiny spot of blood that had seeped through, but it was obviously beginning to heal. It too had the same dried sticky stuff from her other bandages.
Curiously Meg slid to the edge of the bed and swung her legs over the side, her feet just inches off the carpeted floor. She put her left leg down without fanfare, but ever so slowly lowered her right one to the floor, feeling a light sting already from just bending her ankle.
After another moment, Meg gripped the pole holding the canopy up, and put some weight on her left foot first, then slowly putting more on the right. It hurt, but it wasn't anything she couldn't handle. However when she put even more weight on it, the pain skyrocketed as fast as lightening, and with a barely suppressed whimper Meg tried to climb to the canopy leg so she wouldn't fall.
But the canopy leg was waxed like the doors and she had gripped the one part where there wasn't any carving she could grip onto. So her fingers slipped off like it was greased and she fell to the carpeted floor with a grunt and a cough.
Meg took a moment to breathe and look down at her right leg in anger before sitting up and climbing back onto the bed. Sliding across the foot of it until she was closer to the double doors that led outside. With a few awkward hops Meg leaned on the wall next to the double sports and opened it. Then immediately shivered at how much colder the open hallway was by comparison. She shut the door quickly, trying to be quiet but flinching when the door thudded against the frame.
If Meg was being honest with herself she knew she was overreacting to the temperature. But she always was one to get cold easily and it didn't help she just got out of such a comfortable and warm bed.
She looked around before she spotted the dark red fluffy robe on the coat rack behind her. Looking down at her jacket she zipped it up quickly before slinging the robe on her shoulders and tying the belt around her waist tightly.
A soft mechanical click could be heard through the double doors, and Meg froze. She hadn't gotten a good look at the hallway since she closed the door so suddenly but she did remember seeing a huge metal door at the end of it. Whoever owned this place was here and heard her.
But should Meg even be afraid of them? They had cleaned her wounds and bandaged them, as well as given her a place to sleep while she was still out. But they also had probably taken her jeans off while she was sleeping and that was not a comforting thought.
Making up her mind Meg quietly cracked the double door open to peek through, spotting the massive metal door opening at the center and a familiar masked figure walking through.
"Evan?"
The figure froze, and Meg almost didn't realize that she had spoken. Opening the door and leaning on the frame to support herself she spoke again. "Evan is that you? What am I doing here? Where am I?" She asked rapidly as the figure came closer and became more distinguishable.
It was in fact Evan, but he had a dirty off white tank top on with dark pants and heavy duty looking brown boots. Stuff from his outfit that came with his miner's mask.
"What are you doing up. If you keep walking you will worsen your wound." He rumbled, coming close enough to feel his breath through the bone mask. His forearms bent upwards slightly like he wanted to pick her up.
"Evan, where am I?" She pressed, temporarily ignoring his statement.
"If I tell you will you lay down?" Evan asked, peering down at her through the holes of his mask.
Meg stared back up at him unflinching, trying and failing to see the color of his eyes or make out any of his facial features. "Yes." She said, bringing a hand up to run a finger along the edge of his mask, wondering where the scratch marks on the bone and his face had come from.
Before even saying anything Evan let her do as she pleased for a moment, then bending down and lifting her into his arms bridal style. Heading towards the bed again. "You are in the Macmillan mansion. This is the master bedroom... Do you remember what happened?" He questioned, his deep voice rumbling in his chest and vibrating through Meg's much smaller frame.
He set her down on the edge of the bed.
"I stepped in one of your bear traps right? Just what the heck did you put on that thing?" Meg questioned sharply, slightly annoyed at just how overkill the whole thing was.
Evan stared at her, but as usual she couldn't tell what was going on in his brain. Only his actions could ever give her any insight. "I have laced the jaws of all my traps on the estate with a concoction of poisons. Fortunately for yourself I have an antidote for all of them. It is the salve under your bandages." Evan said monotonously, as if he was just making small talk about the weather.
Meg huffed. "Thank you, but Evan you know it's okay to show some emotion from time to time right?" She said with a sarcastic upturn of her lips, crossing her arms jokingly and staring up at the massive man.
Evan merely tilted his head at her like a confused dog. Meg's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Was it that foreign of a concept to him? Clearly she'd underestimated how much a monster his father was if he was this emotionally stunted.
Meg uncrossed her arms and held them open in invitation. "Come here Evan." She said sympathetically, letting her head fall to the side in an attempt to lure him in.
"I beg your pardon?" Evan said, his confusion obvious.
"You are pardoned, but come here. I want a hug, and you're gonna give me one." Meg demanded, waving him in with her hands, growing ever more impatient as he stared at her.
Finally, he relented, bending down stiffly as she reached up and brought her arms around his neck, careful to avoid bumping any of the metal rods. She sighed as she rested her head on his other metal free shoulder. Trying to contain the swirl of emotion from sympathy, to impatience, to all the other emotions both positive and negative. Instead choosing to focus on how comforting it was to feel his arms around her or the sheer size of his frame under her hands.
"Just try and express yourself a little bit when you talk, it makes you seem a like less of a robot, and it's good for you." Meg murmured in his ear. Giving him a squeeze, although with just how freaking massive he was she wondered if he felt it at all.
She knew he wasn't this monotone trapper, he had proven it when he clung to her so tightly the first time they'd hugged.
"I will...take that into consideration. You have my thanks." He said, making her giggle at how shocked he sounded. She traced the edge of his mask one more time, letting her finger simultaneously stroke the skin around it.
Evan reached up and scratched furiously at the skin she touched after she pulled her hand away. His fingers twitching as he tried to push them under his mask. Meg's eyes widened as she watched him begin to unravel. Hearing him growl in his throat as his pulling became more violent.
"Evan stop." Meg said calmly. If she panicked or got too loud than it would just make everything worse. Instead she reached out and placed both her hands on his, and he froze. He looked down at her with his hands still on the sides of his mask.
"How long have you been doing this to yourself?" Meg whispered to herself, but Evan rather obviously heard her since he actually responded.
"Since the Entity stopped me from taking it off." Evan grumbled bitterly, clenching his fists in anger.
Meg stayed quiet, carefully inspecting the mask and the skin around it, seeing the numerous scratches and small little scars matting it. "Do you think that maybe I could get it off?" She asked curiously, tilting her head in concentration.
"I highly doubt that scenario is possible, but you are welcome to try." Evan grumbled, letting his hands fall to his sides unclenched. He looked tired, a man pushed too far and drained of life until there was nothing left, and Meg frowned.
"Well then." Meg said as she took the robe off and threw it across the bed. It was getting too hot in there with it on anyway. She got off her knees and sat down on the bed, kicking her feet in impatience. "Come down here and let me pull that thing off you." Meg said with a smile. She reached a hand out and grabbed his in reassurance, running her thumb over the back of his hand.
"Just...do not belittle me when you see my face." Evan said. Beginning to bend down, but pausing when he heard Meg's laughter, looking up to see one of her hands covering her mouth.
"You really think I'm gonna judge you by your face?" Meg said before bursting into another fit of giggles. "I mean come on Evan we're both adults, we're past that." Meg paused to take a deep breath in, letting out one more laugh before relaxing. "I won't judge you on something so childish." Meg comforted, waving him down further.
The moonlight seemed especially bright from the foot of the bed, and Meg remembered how dark everything else was by comparison, and how even with her adjusted eyes Evan wasn't as easy to see as usual.
"Hold on." Meg said, scooting over to the foot of the bed so she was in the moonlight. "Come on over here, I wanna be able to see you clearly." She said, holding one arm out invitingly.
He took just a couple steps around the bed, but they felt like more than that. And Meg almost laughed when she realized he was quite literally stepping out of the dark and into the light with her.
Now she could see him clearly. He bent down on one knee so their faces were more level, his head just below hers. Meg didn't dare say anything as she reached her small, bandaged fingers out to grip the sides of his mask.
By some miracle, her fingers slipped under it.
Meg's eyes widened as she felt the skin underneath, shocked that she was able to get it off of him. And if Evan's sharp inhale was anything to go by, so was he.
There was a sound similar to pulling tape off a role, his skin had been stuck to the bone for so long that it had to be peeled off, dried sweat lined the inside, only adding to the stickiness.
Meg pried the bone mask off anyway, pulled it up from the jaw until it was far enough away from his eyes for her to feel safe grabbing the piece of bone on the back of his mask, pulling that up too. Finally it came off, covered with grime on the inside from how long it had been stuck to him.
Finally she got to take in his face.
He was handsome to put it plainly. Despite how he was bald and had hairless eyebrows it only added to a certain appeal Meg couldn't say she hated. Nor did it take away from his other features.
His jaw was strong, chiseled. Meg put the mask down next to her and reached out, running one hand along his jaw from the neck to his chin. Her other hand was cupping his right cheek which was scarred heavily, giving it a rough texture that was enjoyable on her hands.
His lips were rather in the middle of the spectrum, not large but not thin, and he had them resting in a line, betraying no emotion. His nose wasn't large like The Clown, but it wasn't incredibly narrow either, fitting in between in a way that emphasized his jawline and face. His cheek bones weren't absurdly prominent either, but she could see them, and she felt that if they were any more prominent it would ruin some of his masculinity.
When she had previously touched his jaw his eyes fluttered open, blinking rapidly as he took everything in without a mask, having his full vision back.
He glanced around the room before looking at her. His eyes were a dark green, a hint of emerald with a hint of forest green. His left eye had a scar next to it that led over to his temple. He stared at her with obvious appreciation, but Meg couldn't help but think there was something else to it. However, that wasn't at the forefront of her mind at the moment as the longer he stared at her with those eyes the harder she blushed.
Yet she couldn't bring herself to look away either.
She stared at him, and he her, for what felt like hours, loosing track of time as the weight of their emotions raced through their minds, having trouble comprehending everything.
Finally, Meg broke the silence, cupping both of his cheeks. "You have got to be the biggest idiot if you think I'd make fun of you when you have a face like this." Meg said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Putting her hands on his shoulders and shaking him for emphasis.
It was hard to tell since Evan's skin was more tan than hers, as well as scarred, but it looked like he was blushing.
"Thank you Megan." Evan said smoothly, showing just a little inflection in his voice that made Meg smile. As well as a little shiver at how unfamiliar she was with hearing her full name, or perhaps it was simply the way he said it.
Evan straightened, standing up to his full height just short of seven feet. Towering over her in her sitting position and taking a step back. But Meg didn't feel any fear, not anymore. Instead she just felt contentment, amazement, safety, and excitement for the future.
But the problem of her foot was still a bother.
"Could you carry me please? I can't walk and I still want a full tour of this place." Meg reminded him, growing more irritated with her condition by the second.
Evan just chuckled quietly at her before grabbing her by the waist and lifting her up as she squeaked in surprise. He repositioned her until she was sitting in the crook of his left arm, her head above his but still low enough to avoid the top of the high door frames. Meg wrapped her arms around his neck for stability, watching with wonder as he carried her from room to room and down the various floors of the massive mansion.
He even went as far as to show her some of the hidden passage ways in the walls. "Only one of them leads to the fourth floor hallway. All the others just connect to another room on the same floor." Evan spoke as he continued showing her anything that caught her eye.
Finally he took her down to the first floor, showing her the various rooms and the expansive kitchen. Meg was intrigued by it, noticing how clean it was despite how it should have been useless with the Entity making sure they never got hungry.
"How come the kitchen is so clean?" She asked, still looking over at the large old fashioned oven and the racks with pots and pans hanging from the ceiling over a center island.
Evan stared at the pristine room as well, looking at the white tile and bronze reflecting the light from the hanging lanterns around the corners of the room. "It was my mother's favorite room in the house. There was hardly anything she enjoyed more than cooking, especially when she learned something new and mastered it." Evan said fondly, very visibly caught up in childhood memories.
He went still, holding her up but unmoving and unresponsive. Meg brought one hand from his neck and rubbed his scarred cheek to bring him back to reality. It worked, he blinked rapidly before looking up at her gratefully and nodding.
"This entire place is beautiful, I'm glad you got to enjoy living here for once." She quipped, not taking her hand away from his cheek and ignoring his stare at her refusal to do just that. Meg was content to simply remain as she was until she had to leave, let Evan carry her and show her all of the mansions secrets.
Unfortunately dark mist appeared from thin air, swirling around the both of them.
A trial was starting, and it would appear that she would be going against Evan. Hopefully her leg would be healed so she could at least be useful and maybe even have some fun. Meg was disappointed that her time in the mansion was cut short, but she wasn't too torn up about it. After all she could just walk back again after this and see Evan again, after running him around in the trial of course.
Evan however, looked visibly irritated at the fog, swatting it away angrily and tightening his grip on her.
"It's alright Evan." She spoke softly, rubbing his cheek again to hopefully distract him. "We're going into the same trial, and you'll have all the time in the world to watch as I disarm all your traps from afar." She teased cheekily, smiling down at him challengingly. He turned to look up at her, his gaze unwavering and with a new edge to it.
"You're on." He said.
Meg just smiled wider, saying one last thing before the fog separated them.
"Don't worry, you'll see me again. I'll be back here after this trial." She said. Trying to convey all her confidence to him through just her tone and her gaze.
Laughter echoed in her ears as the fog took them.
Something Meg had never once heard before.